Geography and Cartography at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's geography program delivers something rare: graduates earning $54,204 in their first year—a full 40% above the national median and 36% above what other Texas geography programs produce. This places A&M in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within Texas, outpacing even UT Austin by nearly $17,000. The $16,479 in median debt is notably lower than both the national ($22,657) and state medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.30—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their debt in under four months of gross earnings.

The momentum continues after graduation, with earnings climbing 19% to $64,337 by year four. This trajectory suggests the technical skills in GIS and spatial analysis translate into strong career advancement. While geography isn't traditionally seen as a high-earning field, A&M's strong corporate and government connections in Texas—particularly in energy, urban planning, and environmental sectors—appear to create opportunities that most geography programs can't match.

For families concerned about ROI, this program offers an unusually strong case: minimal debt, starting salaries that beat most liberal arts degrees, and upward earnings growth. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary, but the data suggests A&M has found a formula that works considerably better than typical geography programs.