Geography and Cartography (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at San Diego Mesa College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,295

Est. from national median (14 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,644

Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52—based on what similar certificate programs nationally report—suggests manageable borrowing if these estimates hold true for San Diego Mesa College. Peer geography certificate programs show first-year earnings around $41,000, which would make the estimated $21,600 in debt recoverable within a reasonable timeframe. However, it's worth noting that this is a community college certificate, and students at similar institutions often borrow less than the national median suggests, or complete programs with minimal debt through grants and part-time enrollment.

The real uncertainty here is whether a geography certificate translates to career advancement in the competitive San Diego market. The field encompasses everything from GIS analysis to environmental surveying, and outcomes likely depend heavily on whether students already work in related industries or need specific technical credentials for promotion. Without actual earnings data from Mesa College graduates, you're betting that national patterns hold locally—a reasonable assumption for technical fields with standardized skills, but one that carries risk in California's varied regional economies.

For parents, this program makes most sense if your student has a clear job target requiring GIS or cartography credentials, or if they're completing it affordably while working. The estimated debt load isn't alarming, but you'll want to verify both the actual cost for your situation and the hiring landscape for geography-related positions in your area before committing.

Where San Diego Mesa College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
San Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego	$1,150	$41,295*	—	$21,644*	—
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato	$9,490	$50,411*	—	—*	—
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$47,464*	—	$23,412*	0.49
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos	$11,450	$44,270*	—	$25,385*	0.57
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$42,833*	—	$19,692*	0.46
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$42,580*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$41,294*	—	$22,197*	0.54

* 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 San Diego Mesa College, approximately 16% 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 14 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.