Geography and Cartography at SUNY College at Geneseo

Genesco's geography program lands graduates at $33,758 in their first year—about $4,500 below the state median for this field. With only around 20 graduates in the sample, these numbers could swing considerably from year to year, but the earnings gap is meaningful: comparable SUNY programs at Oneonta and Binghamton start graduates $5,000-$7,000 higher. Within New York's geography programs, this ranks right around the 40th percentile, suggesting it's performing below the middle of the pack for the state.

The debt picture offers a partial offset. At $14,575, graduates leave with roughly $8,000 less debt than typical New York geography majors, resulting in a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's a genuine advantage—lower debt means more flexibility in those early career years, even if the salary isn't where you'd hope. Still, the combination of below-median earnings and a small cohort size raises questions about career placement support and employer connections specific to this program.

If your child is set on geography at a SUNY school, compare job placement outcomes directly with Oneonta and Binghamton. The lower debt here matters, but not enough to overcome a $7,000 annual earnings disadvantage unless there are other compelling factors like specific faculty expertise or research opportunities. The small program size could mean closer mentorship or indicate limited resources—ask which during campus visits.