Geography Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Geography degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$95K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Geography in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Geography programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/month. Geography enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in GIS and Cartography. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $70,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Geography Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Geography salary: $50,000 starting, $68,000 mid-career, $85,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x based on the local cost of living index.
Geography ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Geography degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,000
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$349,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($490,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Geography in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Geography
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Geography in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Geography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Geography Job Titles
Geography in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Rochester
International Relations
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$67K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$70K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$70K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$62K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Geography Degree in Rochester — 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 Rochester.