Geography and Cartography at Stetson University

A geography degree from Stetson carries an estimated $25,000 in debt—notably higher than the $18,600 median for Florida geography programs and above the $22,657 national median. This matters because while similar programs in Florida suggest first-year earnings around $41,558, that debt load translates to a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning your child would owe roughly 60% of their first year's salary. That's manageable on paper, but it's worth noting that Florida's flagship universities—particularly UF and USF—report actual outcomes in the $39,000-$44,000 range with graduates likely carrying less debt at public institutions.

The 86% admission rate and moderate SAT scores at Stetson indicate this is an accessible program, though you're paying private school prices for outcomes that peer programs suggest will be similar to what public universities deliver. Geography and cartography can lead to careers in GIS analysis, urban planning, and environmental consulting, but these fields don't typically command premium starting salaries that would justify significantly higher borrowing. The limited data availability here—DOE suppresses figures when graduate cohorts are small—suggests this isn't a program with large enrollment, which could mean fewer networking opportunities and campus resources dedicated to the major.

If your child is passionate about geography and Stetson's specific offerings justify the premium, the estimated debt burden won't be crushing. But if cost is a primary concern, Florida's public universities offer comparable programs with clearer outcome data and likely lower total debt.