Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at California State University-East Bay

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,426

Est. from CA median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$14,999

Est. from CA median (11 programs)

Analysis

A bachelor's degree in Geography and Cartography with estimated debt of $15,000—well below the national median of $22,657—positions this program as a relatively low-risk investment, though the estimated first-year earnings of $35,426 lag behind what several other California State schools report for their geography graduates. CSU Sacramento's graduates earn $48,000, nearly $13,000 more, suggesting that program placement, curriculum focus, or regional job markets can create meaningful differences even within the same university system.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates would owe roughly five months of their first-year salary—a manageable starting point that many families would find reasonable. However, the caveat matters: these figures are drawn from comparable programs across California, not from East Bay's specific outcomes. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive, and the actual debt burden for individual students could vary significantly based on aid packages and time-to-degree.

The practical question is whether East Bay's geography program delivers similar career preparation to higher-earning peer programs in the Cal State system. Geography and cartography increasingly involve GIS technology and data analysis—skills that command higher salaries—so asking about the program's technical training, internship connections, and job placement in spatial analysis roles would help clarify whether this program can match the outcomes of its stronger state competitors or whether graduates might start closer to that $35,000 estimate.

Where California State University-East Bay Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all geography and cartography bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
California State University-East BayHayward	$7,055	$35,426*	—	$14,999*	—
California State University-SacramentoSacramento	$7,602	$48,227*	$52,747	$15,881*	0.33
Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park	$8,190	$40,614*	—	$11,000*	0.27
California State University-ChicoChico	$8,064	$40,380*	$50,787	$19,250*	0.48
San Diego State UniversitySan Diego	$8,290	$38,648*	—	$14,999*	0.39
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara	$14,965	$37,398*	$57,435	$13,750*	0.37
National Median	—	$38,726*	—	$22,657*	0.59

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with geography and cartography graduates

Geographers

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

$97,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.

$78,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.

$51,940/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At California State University-East Bay, approximately 44% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 13 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.