Geography Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Racine, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Racine
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Racine, WI Overview
While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Geography students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/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 Racine is approximately $42,900.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,600/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,562/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,051/yr
Unemployment
2.1%
Graduation Rate
72%
Geography Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Racine
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Racine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000
Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,870
vs HS diploma in Racine
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Racine
$207,652
Lifetime earnings premium ($300,300) minus total education cost ($92,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Racine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Racine for Geography
Racine State University
public
$11,121/yr
$44,484 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Racine Community College
$5,143/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Racine
Racine offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Racine Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$45K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Racine
International Relations
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$43K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$43K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$38K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Racine — 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 Racine.