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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$35,608

36th percentile

40th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$26,707

18% above national median

Analysis

Florida State's geography program shows concerning underperformance within the state. At $35,608 in first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $6,000 less than the Florida median for this field—landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. The gap with University of Florida is even starker at over $8,000. Given FSU's competitive 25% admission rate and strong SAT scores, students here are likely capable of accessing higher-earning geography programs within the state system.

The debt picture offers a silver lining: at $26,707, borrowing sits well below both national and state medians, ranking in the 11th percentile nationally. The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, and 18% earnings growth by year four suggests graduates find their footing. Still, even after four years, the $42,075 median trails both UF and USF outcomes.

The major caveat: this data comes from a very small sample of recent graduates, which could skew results significantly. A few graduates pursuing public sector work or graduate school could drag down these numbers. If your child is passionate about geography and values FSU's campus culture, the reasonable debt load means this isn't a disastrous choice—but comparing outcomes with UF's geography program makes sense before committing.

Where Florida State University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Florida State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Florida State University	$35,608	$42,075	+18%
University of Maryland-College Park	$40,913	$65,748	+61%
Texas A&M University-College Station	$54,204	$64,337	+19%
University of Florida	$43,856	$54,432	+24%
University of Florida-Online	$43,856	$54,432	+24%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Florida State UniversityTallahassee	$5,656	$35,608	$42,075	$26,707	0.75
University of FloridaGainesville	$6,381	$43,856	$54,432	$18,600	0.42
University of Florida-OnlineGainesville	$3,876	$43,856	$54,432	$18,600	0.42
University of South FloridaTampa	$6,410	$39,259	—	—	—
National Median	—	$38,726	—	$22,657	0.59

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 Florida State University, approximately 24% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 17 graduates with reported earnings and 21 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.