Geography Degree in Chattanooga, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Chattanooga, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Chattanooga
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Chattanooga, TN Overview
While Chattanooga has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Geography students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,210/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Geography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in GIS and Cartography. The adjusted starting salary in Chattanooga is approximately $40,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,648/yr
Private Tuition
$39,466/yr
Room & Board
$12,210/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,310/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
50%
Geography Salary in Chattanooga (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Chattanooga adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Chattanooga
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Chattanooga tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,648 | Private avg: $39,466
Chattanooga avg aid: $9,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Chattanooga
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chattanooga
$192,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,000) minus total education cost ($87,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Chattanooga
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chattanooga for Geography
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
public
$9,648/yr
$38,592 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chattanooga State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Chattanooga
Chattanooga offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chattanooga Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Clarksville, TN
$45K starting · COL 90
9 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Chattanooga
International Relations
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$38K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$40K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$40K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$35K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$35K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Chattanooga — 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 Chattanooga.