U.S. median for this major: $57,751.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,851.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University Geography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Pennsylvania State University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $19,845 | $83,349 | 2.5 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 2.5 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 3.2 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 4.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Geography graduates 4 years after graduating ($68,993) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $33,196 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography at Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania college we cover that reports Geography graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University | $68,993 | $26,000 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 2 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | $62,659 | — | $19,608 | 66% |
| 3 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | $57,825 | — | $20,787 | 58% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Western University | $49,517 | — | $18,256 | 52% |
10 more Pennsylvania colleges offer Geography but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Geography graduates
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Geographers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -2.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Political Science$68,918
- Sociology$49,197
- Economics$81,228
- Anthropology$50,640
- International Relations$71,001
- Social Sciences$59,883
Pennsylvania State University Geography questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Geography graduates earn?
Geography graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $68,993 four years after graduating and $46,477 one year after. The U.S. median for Geography graduates across 116 colleges is $57,751.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Geography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geography graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $26,000, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,851.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Geography in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Geography graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $68,993 four years out, $8,751 above the median for the same major across 4 Pennsylvania colleges ($60,242) and $11,242 above the U.S. median ($57,751). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Geography in Pennsylvania?
Of 4 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Geography graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Geography graduates get?
A common career is cartographers and photogrammetrists, with a median wage of $73,180 in Pennsylvania and $81,390 nationally. Others include geographers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Pennsylvania State University Geography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/geography (College Scorecard and BLS data).