Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Median Earnings (1yr)

$44,553

85th percentile

Median Debt

$26,000

15% above national median

Analysis

UT-Knoxville's Geography and Cartography program commands premium pricing—graduates carry $26,000 in debt, above both national and state medians—but delivers earnings that justify the investment. At $44,553 in the first year, graduates earn 15% more than the national median for this field and rank in the 85th percentile nationally. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans in under two years of focused repayment.

The earnings plateau quickly, growing just 1% over four years to $45,199, which is typical for geography roles where early career positions often represent the field's standard pay band. Within Tennessee's limited geography program landscape (only three schools offer this degree), UT-Knoxville sits at the 60th percentile—middle of the pack locally but well ahead of most programs nationally. For a flagship state university with competitive admissions (1304 average SAT), these outcomes reflect solid professional preparation.

The value proposition here is straightforward: your child pays slightly more but enters a field earning above-median wages from day one. The moderate debt load is manageable given first-year salaries, and UT-Knoxville's strong national ranking in this program suggests the additional investment buys real credential value in the job market.

Where The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How The University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	$44,553	$45,199	+1%
University of Maryland-College Park	$40,913	$65,748	+61%
Texas A&M University-College Station	$54,204	$64,337	+19%
The University of Texas at Austin	$36,878	$61,313	+66%
University of California-Los Angeles	$36,776	$60,363	+64%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville	$13,484	$44,553	$45,199	$26,000	0.58
Park UniversityParkville	$16,400	$58,786	—	—	—
Dartmouth CollegeHanover	$65,739	$56,756	—	—	—
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station	$13,099	$54,204	$64,337	$16,479	0.30
University of Nevada-RenoReno	$8,994	$53,079	—	—	—
George Washington UniversityWashington	$64,990	$52,883	—	$25,000	0.47
National Median	—	$38,726	—	$22,657	0.59

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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, approximately 21% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 30 graduates with reported earnings and 37 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.