Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at Georgia Southern University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,726

Est. from national median (95 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 looks manageable on paper, but the real story here is how much guesswork is involved. Both the $38,726 first-year earnings figure and $22,359 debt estimate come from national medians across similar programs—not from tracking actual Georgia Southern geography graduates. That's a significant limitation when you're trying to gauge whether this specific program delivers value.

What peer programs suggest is concerning when you look at Georgia's landscape. The state median for geography bachelor's degrees sits at $33,410, roughly $5,300 below what national programs typically produce. Among Georgia schools with actual reported data, outcomes vary dramatically: Kennesaw State graduates earn around $40,000 while UGA graduates start near $27,000. Georgia Southern's accessible admissions (90% acceptance rate) and substantial Pell enrollment (35%) could signal it serves a different student population than UGA, but without program-specific data, you're left making educated guesses about where it falls in that range.

The practical question is whether you're comfortable making a four-year investment based on projections rather than proven outcomes. Geography and cartography programs nationally show modest but stable earning potential, and the estimated debt load wouldn't be crushing if earnings hold. But if this program's actual graduates skew closer to Georgia's lower state median, that ratio becomes tighter quickly. Before committing, press the school for any placement data or alumni outcomes they track internally—something more concrete than statewide estimates.

Where Georgia Southern University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Georgia

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Georgia (6 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro	$5,905	$38,726*	—	$22,359*	—
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw	$5,786	$40,020*	$55,516	$32,500*	0.81
University of GeorgiaAthens	$11,180	$26,801*	$47,688	$22,133*	0.83
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 Georgia Southern 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.