Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at East Tennessee State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,726

Est. from national median (95 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

First-year earnings around $39,000 put this program squarely at the national median for geography degrees, though noticeably below what similar programs in Tennessee typically produce. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's graduates earn about $45,000—a $6,000 gap that's meaningful early in a career. Since ETSU's figures are estimated from peer programs rather than actual graduate outcomes, it's worth noting that geography jobs in Tennessee may skew toward better-paying GIS or environmental work concentrated at larger research universities.

The estimated debt load of $22,000 is manageable at roughly half of first-year earnings, suggesting monthly payments around $250 on a standard repayment plan—about 8% of take-home pay. This fits comfortably within the rule-of-thumb that student debt should stay below annual salary. For comparison, Tennessee geography programs generally carry slightly higher debt (around $26,000), so ETSU appears positioned competitively on cost.

The real question is whether geography work in East Tennessee—which leans toward tourism, environmental planning, or government positions—will match these national salary projections. If your child is specifically interested in geospatial technology or urban planning, the stronger outcomes at UT-Knoxville might justify the likely higher costs. But if keeping debt low matters more than maximizing starting salary, ETSU's accessible price point and reasonable debt-to-earnings picture make this workable, assuming local job opportunities align with the degree.

Where East Tennessee State University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (3 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City	$9,950	$38,726*	—	$22,359*	—
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville	$13,484	$44,553*	$45,199	$26,000*	0.58
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 East Tennessee State University, approximately 35% 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 national median of 95 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.