Geography and Cartography at George Mason University

George Mason's geography program launches graduates into surprisingly strong starting salaries—$49,568 beats the national median by nearly $11,000 and places this program in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive for a field that typically struggles with early-career compensation. The $22,000 debt load is reasonable, creating a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary.

Within Virginia, the picture is more moderate. At the 60th percentile statewide, Mason's outcomes are competitive but not exceptional—graduates from James Madison earn about $4,500 less initially, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year to year. What stands out is the 13% earnings growth trajectory over four years, suggesting graduates are finding their footing in the job market and moving into better-paying roles.

For parents weighing this option, the fundamentals are solid: low debt, above-average starting pay, and clear earning progression. The 89% admission rate makes this accessible to most applicants, and the relatively high Pell grant percentage (30%) indicates the university serves economically diverse students well. Just remember that geography programs are niche, and career outcomes depend heavily on specialization—GIS and spatial analysis skills command premium salaries, while pure academic geography offers fewer paths.