Geography Degree in Lawton, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Lawton, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Lawton
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Lawton, OK Overview
While Lawton has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Geography students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,675/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 Lawton is approximately $41,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$8,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,675/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,482/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
74%
Geography Salary in Lawton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawton's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Lawton adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Lawton
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Lawton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Lawton avg aid: $11,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Lawton
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawton
$204,450
Lifetime earnings premium ($288,750) minus total education cost ($84,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Lawton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawton for Geography
Lawton State University
public
$9,205/yr
$36,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lawton Community College
$4,912/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Lawton
Lawton offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawton Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$42K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Lawton
International Relations
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$41K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$41K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$36K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$36K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Lawton — 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 Lawton.