Geography and Cartography at Augustana College

Augustana's geography program sits in an interesting middle ground within Illinois—earning slightly less than the state median ($40,683 vs. $41,448), yet managing to keep debt exceptionally low. That 5th percentile debt ranking means 95% of geography programs nationwide saddle students with more borrowing, giving graduates here meaningful breathing room with a 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs, but the broad pattern suggests reasonable outcomes. Graduates earn more than the national median for geography majors and trail Illinois leaders like SIU Edwardsville by only about $4,000 annually. At a school with a 68% admission rate, that's competitive positioning—especially when combined with the debt advantage.

For parents weighing this program, the calculus hinges on whether geography aligns with their child's career goals and whether Augustana's modest debt load compensates for earnings that fall in the middle of Illinois options. The low borrowing creates flexibility early in a career, though families should verify current cohort sizes and confirm this program still enrolls enough students to offer robust coursework and faculty attention.