Geography and Cartography at Troy University

At $22,359 in estimated debt, Troy's geography program appears positioned in the lower half of borrowing compared to the state's $26,125 median, though this is based on comparable bachelor's programs nationally rather than Troy-specific outcomes. The estimated first-year salary of $38,726 tracks with the national median but falls short of what similar programs in Alabama typically produce—around $40,811. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 suggests graduates could reasonably manage their loans if these estimates hold, but the gap between Troy's projected outcomes and the state's better-performing programs like University of Alabama ($40,546) or University of North Alabama ($41,076) is worth noting.

Geography and cartography isn't a high-earning field out of the gate, which makes that initial salary differential more significant. An extra $2,000-$2,500 annually—the difference between Troy's estimate and the state median—compounds over time and affects how quickly graduates can pay down debt. With 42% of Troy students receiving Pell grants, many families here are cost-sensitive, and even modest debt can feel burdensome on a $38,000 starting salary.

The takeaway: This appears to be a manageable financial path for students committed to geography, but given the limited actual data, families should directly ask Troy's career services about recent graduate outcomes and compare net costs with Alabama's other geography programs. The estimates suggest competitiveness, but you're making this decision without the full picture.