Geography and Cartography at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's Geography program sits in an unusual spot: it underperforms the national median by $5,500, landing in just the 25th percentile nationally, yet performs above the median for Ohio geography programs. This paradox makes more sense when you see that four of Ohio University's own satellite campuses report identical earnings figures—suggesting the state benchmark may reflect limited program availability rather than genuine competitiveness.

The debt load is reasonable at $26,000, below the national median, and graduates see solid 28% earnings growth by year four, reaching $42,424. That puts four-year earnings nearly at the national 75th percentile despite the weak start. The first-year figure of $33,199 suggests graduates may be taking entry-level positions while they build specialized skills, though this creates tighter initial finances with a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio.

For Ohio families, this comes down to whether geographic analysis or GIS skills fit your child's strengths and whether they can manage lean early years financially. The upward trajectory is encouraging, but Ohio State's geography grads earn $11,500 more straight out of college—a significant premium that doesn't require leaving the state system. If your child is committed to this field and Athens feels like the right fit, the numbers work, but set clear expectations about those first couple of post-graduation years.