Location: Bloomington, IN•In-State Tuition: $11,790•Out-of-State Tuition: $40,482•Admission Rate: 80%•Avg SAT: 1308
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,726
Est. from national median (95 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,359
Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

Indiana's geography and cartography programs tell a divided story. While Ball State reports first-year earnings of $34,274, peer programs nationally suggest closer to $38,700—positioning IU Bloomington's estimated outcomes above the state benchmark but requiring careful interpretation since neither earnings nor debt figures come from actual graduate data at this campus.

The estimated debt load of $22,400 translates to a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold where annual debt equals annual income. Similar programs nationally carry comparable debt burdens ($22,700 median), suggesting this field doesn't typically saddle graduates with overwhelming loans regardless of institution. However, geography degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs in urban planning, GIS analysis, or environmental science—careers where the bachelor's alone may not capture full earning potential.

The real uncertainty here is whether IU Bloomington's specific program—at a flagship university with stronger admissions selectivity than many peer institutions—delivers outcomes matching or exceeding these national estimates. The small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression makes it impossible to know if Bloomington's geography students leverage the university's reputation into better positions. Parents should ask the department directly about recent graduate placements and typical career paths, since the estimation methodology can't account for institutional advantages or regional job markets that might justify this investment.

Where Indiana University-Bloomington Stands

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

Indiana University-Bloomington (estimated ±10%)Other geography and cartography programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington$11,790$38,726*—$22,359*—
Ball State UniversityMuncie$10,758$34,274*$49,490$26,000*0.76
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 Indiana University-Bloomington, approximately 17% 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.