Geography Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$83K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Geography students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/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 Renton is approximately $61,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Geography Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,375
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$317,858
Lifetime earnings premium ($428,750) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Geography
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Renton
International Relations
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$61K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$61K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.