Geography Degree in Nashville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Nashville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Nashville
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Nashville, TN Overview
Nashville is one of Tennessee's top college towns, with 35 institutions and a student population of 23,290. Public tuition averages $9,312/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Geography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in GIS and Cartography. The adjusted starting salary in Nashville is approximately $46,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
35
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$50,624/yr
Room & Board
$13,344/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,603/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
74%
Geography Salary in Nashville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Nashville's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Nashville adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Nashville
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Nashville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $50,624
Nashville avg aid: $7,603/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,624
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,800
vs HS diploma in Nashville
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Nashville
$231,376
Lifetime earnings premium ($322,000) minus total education cost ($90,624)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Nashville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Nashville for Geography
Vanderbilt University
private
$60,348/yr
$241,392 total
Belmont University
private
$40,900/yr
$163,600 total
Tennessee State University
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Nashville State Community College
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Nashville
Nashville offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Nashville Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
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 Nashville
International Relations
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$46K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$46K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Nashville — 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 Nashville.