U.S. median for this major: $57,751.
College Scorecard field of study; 24 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 37% 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 $31,713. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-Columbia 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 University of Missouri-Columbia'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 | $13,841 | $59,516 | 2.9 years |
| $30–48k | $13,378 | $57,525 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $13,722 | $59,005 | 2.8 years |
| $75–110k | $19,762 | $84,977 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $26,304 | $113,107 | 5.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($56,191) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,753 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 Missouri colleges
Every Missouri 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 | Park University | $65,890 | — | $21,032 | 38% |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $56,191 | $21,000 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 3 | Northwest Missouri State University | $55,656 | — | $16,244 | 54% |
3 more Missouri 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 University of Missouri-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,403
- Full cost breakdown · all 87 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-Columbia
- Political Science$64,747
- Sociology$55,098
- Economics$74,661
- Anthropology$49,351
University of Missouri-Columbia Geography questions
How much do University of Missouri-Columbia Geography graduates earn?
Geography graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median $56,191 four years after graduating and $38,726 one year after. The U.S. median for Geography graduates across 116 colleges is $57,751.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia Geography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geography graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia is $21,000, about 37% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,851.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia a good school for Geography in Missouri?
On pay, Geography graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn $56,191 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Missouri colleges ($56,191) and $1,560 below the U.S. median ($57,751). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Missouri-Columbia rank for Geography in Missouri?
Of 3 Missouri colleges reporting Geography graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 2nd. The highest is Park University at $65,890.
What jobs do Geography graduates get?
A common career is cartographers and photogrammetrists, with a median wage of $76,950 in Missouri and $81,390 nationally. Others include geographers.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia the right fit for your family?
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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: “University of Missouri-Columbia Geography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/geography (College Scorecard and BLS data).