Geography and Cartography at University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder's geography program shows a concerning pattern that parents need to understand upfront: graduates start well below both national and state averages, earning just $32,000 in their first year—that's $5,000 less than the Colorado median and bottom-quintile nationally. While the $21,802 debt load looks manageable on paper, that first-year salary creates real strain, particularly in expensive Boulder. More troubling, graduates from Metropolitan State University of Denver in the same field earn $44,861 right out of the gate, nearly 40% more for what's typically a lower-cost education.

The silver lining is substantial earnings growth—graduates nearly double their income by year four, reaching $54,616. That trajectory suggests the program may prepare students for roles that require experience to access, but it means planning for lean early years. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty; these numbers could shift significantly with more data, and they may reflect specific career paths rather than typical outcomes.

For a selective research university with these admission standards, this program underperforms its peer institutions in Colorado. Unless your child has specific research or graduate school aspirations where CU Boulder's reputation matters, the combination of below-average starting salaries and higher cost of attendance makes this a questionable investment compared to Denver-area alternatives that deliver better immediate returns.