Geography Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Geography programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Geography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in GIS and Cartography. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $46,750.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Geography Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,025
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$225,142
Lifetime earnings premium ($327,250) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Geography
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Arlington
International Relations
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$47K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$47K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Geography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.