Geography and Cartography at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State's Geography and Cartography program significantly outperforms both state and national benchmarks, earning graduates $44,789 in their first year—nearly $11,000 more than the typical Ohio geography graduate and $6,000 above the national median. Among Ohio's 17 programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, and it places even higher (87th percentile) nationally. The $23,250 debt load sits right at the national median, resulting in a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates can reasonably handle.

The earnings trajectory looks promising too: graduates see 22% income growth by year four, reaching $54,449. This suggests the degree opens doors beyond entry-level mapping positions into GIS analysis, urban planning, or related fields where experience pays off. For context, many of Ohio's other geography programs cluster around $33,000 in starting earnings, making Ohio State's premium worth serious consideration if your child is choosing between in-state options.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers should be relatively stable, though not bulletproof. If your child has genuine interest in spatial analysis and mapping technology—skills increasingly valuable across industries from logistics to environmental science—this program delivers strong ROI compared to most geography degrees, particularly within Ohio's public university system.