Geography and Cartography (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Jefferson Community and Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,295

Est. from national median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,644

Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

A certificate in Geography and Cartography carries an estimated debt load of $21,644 against first-year earnings around $41,300—figures derived from similar community college certificate programs nationally since this specific program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.52, meaning you'd owe about half a year's income, which falls into manageable territory for a credential that typically takes less than two years to complete.

The catch is uncertainty. With only 14 comparable programs nationwide reporting earnings data, and just 216 schools total offering this credential type, you're looking at a niche field where outcomes can vary significantly based on local job markets and individual career paths. Geography and cartography skills—especially GIS mapping and spatial analysis—are valuable in sectors like urban planning, environmental consulting, and logistics, but a certificate alone may position graduates for entry-level technical roles rather than the specialist positions that command higher salaries. Kentucky has six schools offering this program, yet none have sufficient graduate data for the DOE to report, which underscores how small these cohorts are.

For families weighing this option, the math works if the certificate serves as a stepping stone—either into immediate employment in a geography-related field or as a foundation before pursuing further credentials. The estimated debt load won't be crushing, but this isn't a credential with a clear, predictable earnings pathway based on available evidence.

Where Jefferson Community and Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville	$4,706	$41,295*	—	$21,644*	—
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato	$9,490	$50,411*	—	—*	—
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$47,464*	—	$23,412*	0.49
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos	$11,450	$44,270*	—	$25,385*	0.57
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$42,833*	—	$19,692*	0.46
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$42,580*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$41,294*	—	$22,197*	0.54

* 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 Jefferson Community and Technical College, approximately 29% 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 14 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.