Geography and Cartography at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's geography program appears positioned in the middle of Virginia's competitive landscape, with peer programs in the state suggesting first-year earnings around $45,000—notably above the $38,700 national median for this field. The estimated $20,500 in debt creates a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary. By year four, when earnings climb to nearly $55,000, this debt burden becomes even more reasonable.

What makes this estimate particularly relevant is that it's drawn from actual outcomes at similar Virginia programs, where geography graduates at schools like George Mason and James Madison report earnings in this same range. The field itself shows solid progression: that nearly $10,000 jump between years one and four suggests skills that gain value with experience. For a major that often leads to work in urban planning, GIS analysis, or environmental consulting, these numbers reflect realistic career trajectories rather than outlier success stories.

The catch is straightforward: these are estimated figures because Old Dominion's geography cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report separately. If your student thrives in this specific program and builds the right technical skills—particularly in GIS software—the math works. But you're betting on a small program where individual outcomes can vary widely from these state-based estimates.