Geography and Cartography at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver's geography program defies expectations for an open-enrollment institution. Graduates earn $44,861 their first year—outperforming 87% of geography programs nationally and sitting above Colorado's top programs like UC Denver ($39,104) and even flagship Boulder ($32,078). This is particularly impressive given MSU Denver's 99% admission rate and serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (35%).

The debt load of $35,136 exceeds both national and state medians by roughly $12,000-13,000, though the 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable. Graduates earn enough in year one to justify the borrowing, though families should note this is higher debt than peer Colorado programs. The real question is whether these cartography and GIS skills hold their value over time—geography roles can vary widely from municipal planning to tech-focused mapping positions.

The major caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so these numbers could swing significantly year to year. However, if your child is specifically interested in geography or GIS and you're Colorado residents, this program delivers stronger earning potential than the state's flagship universities at a more accessible price point. Just plan for that above-average debt load and verify the program still offers the technical cartography training that likely drives these earnings.