Geography and Cartography at George Washington University

George Washington's Geography and Cartography program commands a significant earnings premium—$52,883 first-year out versus a $38,726 national median. That's 37% above typical outcomes for this major and places graduates in the 95th percentile nationally. With $25,000 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, a manageable position that should allow for relatively quick paydown.

The caveat here matters: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift considerably year to year. What likely drives the strong showing is location—Washington, DC's robust federal government presence and GIS-heavy contractor ecosystem creates natural demand for geography graduates. The school's selectivity (average SAT of 1433) also suggests this cohort arrives well-prepared to leverage those opportunities. Still, with only one program in DC, the state percentile ranking (60th) is meaningless for comparison purposes.

For parents weighing this program, the fundamentals look sound if geography genuinely interests your student. The earnings advantage over typical geography programs is substantial, and the debt load stays reasonable even at a private university. Just remember that small sample sizes cut both ways—these exceptional outcomes might not hold steady, particularly if job market conditions shift or your student doesn't pursue geography-related work in the DC area.