Geography and Cartography (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Texas State University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$44,270

83rd percentile

60th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$25,385

14% above national median

Analysis

Texas State's geography certificate shows strong first-year earnings of $44,270—outpacing the national median by $3,000 and landing in the 83rd percentile nationally. That's a solid start for a certificate program, especially one accessible to students who may not be ready for a four-year commitment. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it difficult to know if these outcomes are reliable year-over-year.

The debt picture is remarkably clean. At $25,385, graduates carry less debt than 95% of similar programs nationwide, and the 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio means the typical graduate owes about half their first-year salary—manageable by most standards. For comparison, the national median for geography certificates is $22,197, so Texas State students do borrow slightly more, but they're also earning more right out of the gate.

The main caution here is that small-sample-size data. If your child is considering this path, talk directly with the program about recent graduate outcomes and where certificate holders actually land jobs. A certificate can be a smart, lower-cost credential for GIS work or entry into planning fields, but you want to verify these numbers hold up beyond this limited cohort.

Where Texas State University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Texas State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos	$11,450	$44,270	—	$25,385	0.57
Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato	$9,490	$50,411	—	—	—
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$47,464	—	$23,412	0.49
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$42,833	—	$19,692	0.46
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$42,580	—	—	—
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe	$12,051	$41,627	—	$19,691	0.47
National Median	—	$41,294	—	$22,197	0.54

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 Texas State University, approximately 36% 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.