Geography and Cartography at Montclair State University

Montclair State's geography program punches above its weight, with first-year earnings of $42,638 landing at the 75th percentile nationally—well above the typical $38,726 that geography graduates earn. While the debt figure of $22,359 is estimated from national patterns at similar public universities, the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 suggests a manageable financial burden that should take less than a year to repay under typical repayment plans.

What makes this program particularly interesting is its competitive position. Among New Jersey's four geography programs, Montclair holds the median earnings spot, essentially tied with the state average. You're getting results comparable to Rutgers-New Brunswick (though that school's much lower reported earnings of $26,701 raise questions about their graduates' initial paths) and only slightly trailing Rowan. For a school with an 87% admission rate serving a significant population of Pell-eligible students, these outcomes represent solid accessibility without sacrificing earning potential.

The key limitation is the estimated debt figure—we don't know Montclair's actual borrowing patterns for geography majors specifically. But even if actual debt runs higher than the national estimate, the strong earnings provide cushion. This looks like a practical choice for students interested in geography who want reasonable career prospects without elite admissions barriers.