Geography and Cartography at Park University

Park University's Geography and Cartography program stands out with first-year earnings of $58,786—significantly higher than the national median of $38,726 and well above Missouri's typical $48,756. While debt figures for this specific program aren't publicly reported due to small cohort size, comparable programs at similar institutions suggest around $25,000 in borrowing, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. That's less than half a year's salary, which is a comfortable threshold for repayment.

The earnings advantage here is substantial. Even within Missouri, where geography programs generally pay better than the national average, Park graduates earn about $10,000 more than the state median. This matters because geography and cartography skills—particularly GIS and spatial analysis—are increasingly valuable in tech, logistics, and urban planning sectors. The program serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (39%), suggesting it's delivering strong outcomes for students across income levels.

The caveat is uncertainty: with debt estimated from peer institutions rather than Park's actual graduates, and a small cohort size that prevents data publication, you're working with less complete information than ideal. Still, the earnings performance is strong enough to suggest this program is connecting graduates to high-value opportunities, whether in Kansas City's growing tech sector or beyond. If your student is genuinely interested in spatial analysis and mapping, the earning potential here appears to justify the modest estimated borrowing.