Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,996

Est. from CO median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,135

Est. from CO median (4 programs)

Analysis

Similar geography programs in Colorado typically produce first-year earnings around $37,000—just below the national median for this field—which puts these graduates in a relatively modest starting position. The debt burden, estimated at around $22,000 based on comparable programs at Colorado State, translates to a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's manageable territory: graduates would owe roughly 60 cents for every dollar earned in their first year.

What's striking is the range among Colorado geography programs. Metropolitan State produces notably higher earners at nearly $45,000, while CU Boulder's graduates start around $32,000 despite the flagship's reputation. This spread suggests that outcomes in this field depend heavily on individual career paths and the specific skills graduates develop—GIS expertise, data analysis, and urban planning applications tend to command higher salaries than purely academic geography.

For parents, the question is whether your student has a clear plan for what they'll do with this degree. Geography can lead to solid careers in urban planning, environmental consulting, or geospatial intelligence, but those paths require intentionality. The debt level is reasonable enough that it won't trap graduates, but the modest starting salary means there's not much cushion for career uncertainty. If your student is passionate about spatial analysis and has identified concrete career applications, this investment makes sense. If geography is still a vague interest, they should nail down more specifics before committing.

Where Colorado State University-Fort Collins Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (9 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins	$12,896	$36,996*	—	$22,135*	—
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver	$10,780	$44,861*	—	$35,136*	0.78
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver	$10,017	$39,104*	$50,825	$22,468*	0.57
University of Northern ColoradoGreeley	$12,010	$36,996*	—	—*	—
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs	$9,712	$36,426*	$41,964	$17,500*	0.48
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder	$16,430	$32,078*	$54,616	$21,802*	0.68
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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins, approximately 19% 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 5 similar programs in CO. Actual outcomes may vary.