---

Geographic Information Science

Types of Degrees Geographic Information Science Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Geographic Information Science have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	97
Associate’s Degree	124
Bachelor’s Degree	734
Master’s Degree	2,502
Doctor’s Degree	49

What Geographic Information Science Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Geographic Information Science build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Geographic Information Science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Geographic Information Science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Geographic Information Science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Geographic Information Science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Geographic Information Science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Geographic Information Science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Microsoft SharePoint	Document management software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Microsoft Internet Explorer	Internet browser software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Geographic Information Science graduates include:

• Compliance Director
• Safety Coordinator
• Power Superintendent
• Poolroom/Poolhall Manager
• System Operation Superintendent
• Director of in Service Education
• Solid Waste Disposal Manager
• Laboratory Manager
• Animal Ride Manager
• Testing Director
• Program Manager
• Chamber of Commerce Division Manager
• Quality Control Coordinator
• Gas Well Drilling Manager
• Research Development Director

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Geographic Information Science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	43.0%
Doctoral degree	23.2%
Master’s degree	8.9%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	7.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	4.9%
Postsecondary certificate	4.5%
Post-master’s certificate	3.0%
Some college courses	2.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.1%
Post-doctoral training	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Geographic Information Science?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 42.8% women and 57.2% men among Geographic Information Science graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	1,532	42.8%
Men	2,045	57.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Geographic Information Science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2,326	65.0%
Asian	188	5.3%
Hispanic or Latino	395	11.0%
Black or African American	94	2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	28	0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	4	0.1%
Two or More Races	128	3.6%
Race Unknown	111	3.1%
International Students	303	8.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Geographic Information Science Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Geographic Information Science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$43,758
4 years	$52,013
5 years	$59,913

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $59,913 — roughly 37% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Geographic Information Science Programs

Online study is reported by IPEDS for Geographic Information Science. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	6	4
Bachelor’s	10	4
Master’s	16	8

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Geographic Information Science Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Geographic Information Science graduates earn a median of $52,013 four years after completion — roughly 37% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Geography and Cartography	45.07
Geography, Other	45.0799
Geography	45.0701
Geography and Anthropology	45.1501
American Government and Politics (United States)	45.1002
Anthropology, General	45.0201
Anthropology, Other	45.0299
Applied Demography	45.0502

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.