Geography and Cartography at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

The $20,548 debt burden estimated for this program—if accurate—would represent one of the lighter loads among Geography programs in New York, running about $2,000 below the state median. That matters when first-year earnings from comparable programs hover around $36,000, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 that most financial advisors would consider manageable.

The challenge with SUNY Plattsburgh's Geography program is the limited data. With only four similar programs in New York providing the baseline for these estimates, there's significant uncertainty about what graduates from this specific program actually earn. The state's Geography programs show wide variation—from Buffalo's $29,390 to Binghamton's $40,434—suggesting institutional differences matter considerably. Plattsburgh's 75% admission rate and mid-range academic profile place it in the middle tier of SUNY schools, which could mean outcomes closer to the state median than to top performers like Genesco or Binghamton.

The modest estimated debt gives you some cushion if actual earnings fall short of projections. Geography and Cartography degrees can lead to diverse career paths—from GIS analysis to urban planning—where networking and internship experience during college often matter as much as the school's name. Before committing, contact Plattsburgh's Geography department directly to learn about recent graduate outcomes and employer connections, since the suppressed federal data means you're essentially betting on peer program performance rather than this school's track record.