Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at Northwest Missouri State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,726

Est. from national median (95 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

Geography and cartography graduates in Missouri typically command stronger starting salaries than national averages—the state median sits at $48,756 versus $38,726 nationally. That makes Northwest Missouri State's estimated $38,726 first-year earnings particularly worth scrutinizing. While this figure matches the national benchmark, it falls well short of what comparable programs across Missouri produce, with some graduates in the state earning above $58,000 right out of the gate. The estimated $22,359 in debt keeps the overall burden manageable at just over half of first-year income, but parents should recognize they're looking at earnings potential that doesn't capture Missouri's apparent advantage in this field.

What complicates the picture is that these figures are derived from peer programs nationally rather than actual outcomes from Northwest Missouri State graduates—the school's geography program is too small for the Department of Education to publish specific data. This means you're evaluating the program based on what similar credentials typically produce, not what this particular school delivers. Given that Missouri programs show such wide variation (from roughly $39,000 to nearly $59,000), the actual trajectory for Northwest graduates remains uncertain.

The practical question: can your family afford to invest based on the lower end of Missouri outcomes? If $38,726 works with the debt load and your child is committed to this field, Northwest offers an accessible path. But if you're banking on Missouri's stronger geographic earnings, you'll need to dig deeper into where Northwest's specific graduates land.

Where Northwest Missouri State University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (7 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville	$10,181	$38,726*	—	$22,359*	—
Park UniversityParkville	$16,400	$58,786*	—	—*	—
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia	$14,130	$38,726*	—	$21,000*	0.54
National Median	—	$38,726*	—	$22,657*	0.59

* 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 Northwest Missouri State University, approximately 27% 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 95 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.