Geography Degree in Portland, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Portland, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.6 yrs
in Portland
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Portland, OR Overview
Portland is one of Oregon's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 19,612. Public tuition averages $9,585/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 Portland is approximately $56,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,585/yr
Private Tuition
$53,947/yr
Room & Board
$18,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,300/yr
Unemployment
5.1%
Graduation Rate
51%
Geography Salary in Portland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Portland's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Portland adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Portland
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Portland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,585 | Private avg: $53,947
Portland avg aid: $15,300/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,788
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,800
vs HS diploma in Portland
ROI Payback Period
6.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Portland
$281,212
Lifetime earnings premium ($392,000) minus total education cost ($110,788)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Portland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Portland for Geography
Portland State University
public
$9,585/yr
$38,340 total
University of Portland
private
$51,414/yr
$205,656 total
Lewis & Clark College
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Portland Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Portland
Portland offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Portland Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Oregon Cities
Eugene, OR
$65K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$60K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$55K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$58K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$54K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$53K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$56K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$60K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Portland
International Relations
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$56K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$56K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$56K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Portland — 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 Portland.