Geography and Cartography at Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University's Geography and Cartography bachelor's comes with a debt burden that's higher than what similar Florida programs typically carry. While comparable programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $41,600—roughly on par with the national median—the estimated $25,000 in debt sits well above Florida's typical $18,600 for this field. That gap matters when you're starting a career where earnings tend to be modest across the board.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 isn't alarming on its own, but geography graduates don't typically see the rapid salary growth that makes higher debt easier to absorb. Looking at Florida's flagship programs with reported data, most geography majors earn between $35,600 and $43,900 in their first year—a fairly narrow range that suggests limited upside for differentiating factors like private school credentials. The field tends to reward technical skills and internship experience more than institutional prestige.

For parents, the question is whether Jacksonville's smaller class sizes and private school environment justify paying roughly 35% more in debt than Florida's state schools would require for similar outcomes. If your child is passionate about GIS, cartography, or environmental analysis, they'll likely find work—but they'll be managing that extra debt on a geographer's salary from day one.