Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at United States Military Academy

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,271

Est. from NY median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$20,548

Est. from NY median (4 programs)

Analysis

This analysis comes with a crucial caveat: West Point graduates don't pay tuition and receive a military salary immediately upon graduation, making these estimated figures—drawn from civilian geography programs in New York—essentially meaningless for understanding this program's actual value. The estimated $36,271 first-year earnings and $20,548 debt are based on four other New York schools, but West Point cadets graduate debt-free and earn a second lieutenant's base salary of around $45,000 plus substantial benefits, housing allowances, and healthcare.

The real calculation here isn't about debt-to-earnings ratios—it's about the five-year active duty service commitment that comes with admission. West Point's geography program prepares officers for intelligence, logistics, and strategic planning roles in the military, where career progression follows entirely different economics than civilian cartography positions. The 14% admission rate reflects fierce competition for what amounts to a fully-funded education plus guaranteed employment.

If your child is considering West Point for geography, the financial question isn't whether $36,000 in earnings justifies $20,000 in debt—those numbers don't apply here. Instead, ask whether they're genuinely committed to military service and whether the geographic skills they'll develop align with Army career paths. The financial value is unquestionably strong, but only if the service obligation fits their long-term goals.

Where United States Military Academy Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
United States Military AcademyWest Point	—	$36,271*	—	$20,548*	—
Binghamton UniversityVestal	$10,363	$40,434*	$53,830	$20,596*	0.51
SUNY OneontaOneonta	$8,812	$38,784*	—	$20,500*	0.53
SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo	$8,966	$33,758*	—	$14,575*	0.43
University at BuffaloBuffalo	$10,782	$29,390*	$39,206	$24,255*	0.83
National Median	—	$38,726*	—	$22,657*	0.59

* Estimated from similar programs

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). 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.