Geography and Cartography at DePaul University

DePaul's geography certificate program reports first-year earnings of $47,464—well above the $41,294 national median and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive on paper, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a handful of high earners could skew the entire picture. In Illinois specifically, this sits at the 60th percentile, suggesting the earnings reflect Chicago's market more than the program's exceptional preparation.

The debt load of $23,412 produces a manageable 0.49 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates owe roughly half their starting salary. That's reasonable for a certificate program, though it's worth questioning whether the same career outcome might be achievable through shorter, cheaper pathways. Geography certificates often serve as add-ons to existing degrees or career transitions, so the value depends heavily on what else your child brings to the table.

With only seven schools offering this certificate in Illinois and limited data points, you're essentially taking a leap of faith. If your child is already in the Chicago area and this complements a related degree or work experience, the numbers suggest modest upside. As a standalone investment, though, the small sample makes it impossible to know if these earnings are typical or outliers.