Geography and Cartography at Missouri State University-Springfield

The debt load here looks manageable—$25,300 sits just above the national median for geography programs but comes with a concerning twist. While estimated first-year earnings based on comparable programs nationally suggest around $38,700, this program reports actual fourth-year earnings of just $38,322. That's barely any growth over three years, and it puts graduates well below what similar Missouri programs typically deliver. Park University graduates in this field earn $58,786, while Mizzou matches the national baseline—Missouri State's outcomes trail behind peers in the state by roughly $10,000 annually.

That flat earnings trajectory matters more than the initial debt burden. At a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio, payments should be workable in year one, but geography majors usually see their earning power grow as they develop specialized GIS skills or move into planning roles. When earnings stall at essentially the entry level for years, it suggests graduates may be landing in positions that don't leverage their cartographic or spatial analysis training. The $25,300 debt becomes harder to shake when you're not gaining financial ground.

If your child is serious about cartography or GIS work, look closely at what internships and software training this program provides. The gap between Missouri State's outcomes and other state schools suggests program-specific factors matter here—not just the degree itself. Without stronger evidence of career progression, this represents a bigger financial commitment than the modest debt figure initially suggests.