Only 45 colleges in the country offer Geography and Environmental Studies, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $55,678.
Geography and Environmental Studies is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Graduates typically earn around $55,678 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. The program is available at 45 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 809 students complete this program each year, most earning a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 4yr
$55,678
Colleges Offering
45
Graduates / Year
809
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,870
How Much Do Geography and Environmental Studies Graduates Earn?
Geography and Environmental Studies graduates earn $55,678 four years out, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,952 and $75,105.
$55,678
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$52,946
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a moderate earnings spread across Geography and Environmental Studies graduates. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$46,95225th pct.
$55,678Median
$75,10575th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $55,678 and an estimated $79,480 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.1 years.
Based on outcomes from 39 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 809 students who complete Geography and Environmental Studies programs each year, the majority (76%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
76%
Bachelor's76%
Master's17%
Doctorate7%
What Can You Do With a Geography and Environmental Studies Degree?
Geography and Environmental Studies connects to 5 occupations in the job market. Natural Sciences Managers leads at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
Apply principles of specialized fields of science, such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, or agriculture, to achieve conservation objectives.
Plan soil management or conservation practices, such as crop rotation, reforestation, permanent vegetation, contour plowing, or terracing, to maintain soil or conserve water.
Monitor projects during or after construction to ensure projects conform to design specifications.
Perform laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health, under the direction of an environmental scientist, engineer, or other specialist. May collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing.
Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
Investigate hazardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
Top Colleges for Geography and Environmental Studies
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Geography and Environmental Studies students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Geography and Environmental Studies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Geography and Environmental Studies is one of 39 specializations within Interdisciplinary Studies. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Geography and Environmental Studies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Geography and Environmental Studies Degree: Pros & Cons
The data on Geography and Environmental Studies shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $55,678 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 25,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availabilityOnly 45 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
Geography and Environmental Studies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Geography and Environmental Studies graduates earn?
Geography and Environmental Studies graduates earn a national median of $55,678 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,952 and $75,105. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What jobs can you get with a Geography and Environmental Studies degree?
Geography and Environmental Studies degree holders pursue careers including Natural Sciences Managers, which pays a median of $167,220/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Geography and Environmental Studies program take?
A Geography and Environmental Studies bachelor's degree typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years for students who want a faster path into the workforce.
How many colleges offer Geography and Environmental Studies?
45 colleges and universities in the United States offer Geography and Environmental Studies programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Geography and Environmental Studies degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $55,678 and an average net price of roughly $19,870/yr, a Geography and Environmental Studies degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Geography and Environmental Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Geography and Environmental Studies is a focused concentration within the broader Interdisciplinary Studies field. The Interdisciplinary Studies major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Geography and Environmental Studies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Geography and Environmental Studies graduates?
Employers hiring Geography and Environmental Studies graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the job outlook for Geography and Environmental Studies graduates?
The job outlook for Geography and Environmental Studies graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.7% job growth over the next 10 years. Environmental Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +4.4%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
