Geography Degree in Newport News, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Newport News, VA. 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
8.3 yrs
in Newport News
Cost of Living
92.5
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Newport News, VA Overview
Newport News, Virginia (pop. 186,247) has 7 colleges offering Geography programs. The local cost of living index of 92.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $705/month. Geography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in GIS and Cartography. The adjusted starting salary in Newport News is approximately $46,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,491/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,779/yr
Unemployment
2.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Geography Salary in Newport News (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newport News's cost of living index of 92.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Newport News adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Newport News
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Newport News tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Newport News avg aid: $9,779/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,764
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,875
vs HS diploma in Newport News
ROI Payback Period
8.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newport News
$208,986
Lifetime earnings premium ($323,750) minus total education cost ($114,764)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Newport News
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newport News for Geography
Newport News State University
public
$13,266/yr
$53,064 total
University of Newport News
public
$15,083/yr
$60,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Newport News Community College
$5,242/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Newport News
Newport News offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newport News Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$50K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Newport News
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
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Newport News — 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 Newport News.