Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,449

Est. from IL median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$23,775

Est. from IL median (3 programs)

Analysis

The modest debt load matters here. Similar geography programs in Illinois suggest borrowing around $24,000, which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57—well within manageable territory. For comparison, four-year earnings of $48,276 represent solid growth and put this program roughly in the middle of Illinois geography degrees, though below what students at SIUE or U of I typically earn.

Geography and cartography occupy an interesting professional space where outcomes vary considerably based on specialization. The field spans everything from urban planning to GIS analysis to environmental consulting, and starting salaries reflect that diversity. Comparable programs across Illinois show first-year earnings clustering around $41,000, which aligns with national benchmarks. The key question is whether SIUC's specific curriculum and employer connections support the higher-earning paths within the field—GIS technical work and data analysis roles—or lean toward more general geographic research positions.

The financial picture is straightforward: reasonable debt serviced by middle-income earnings that improve noticeably by year four. What's less clear is how SIUC's program specifically positions graduates for career advancement. If your student is drawn to spatial analysis and mapping technology, investigate whether the program emphasizes technical GIS skills and internship placements with regional planning agencies or private firms. Those practical connections typically determine whether geography graduates trend toward the $44,000+ outcomes seen at peer Illinois schools or settle near the lower end of the range.

Where Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	—	$48,276	—
University of Maryland-College Park	$40,913	$65,748	+61%
Texas A&M University-College Station	$54,204	$64,337	+19%
The University of Texas at Austin	$36,878	$61,313	+66%
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	$44,543	$51,648	+16%

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale	$13,244	$41,449*	$48,276	$23,775*	—
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville	$12,922	$44,543*	$51,648	$23,775*	0.53
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign	$16,004	$42,214*	—	$25,000*	0.59
Augustana CollegeRock Island	$49,834	$40,683*	—	$27,000*	0.66
Illinois State UniversityNormal	$16,021	$34,952*	—	$15,500*	0.44
National Median	—	$38,726*	—	$22,657*	0.59

* 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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, approximately 37% 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 median of 4 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.