Geography and Cartography at University of Houston-Clear Lake

In Texas, geography programs show considerable variation in early outcomes, with first-year earnings ranging from $36,000 to over $54,000 depending on the institution. Similar programs in the state suggest median earnings around $40,000, placing this field below many STEM degrees but ahead of some humanities options. The estimated $21,435 in debt for this program sits slightly below the state median for geography bachelor's programs, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54—meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first year's salary. That's manageable compared to many bachelor's programs, though not exceptional.

What makes this program harder to evaluate is the small cohort size that necessitates these estimates. Geography and cartography isn't a high-volume major, and at UH-Clear Lake specifically, too few students have graduated recently for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. The peer programs used for estimation range widely in results, with Texas A&M geography graduates earning 36% more than the state median. Without knowing where UH-Clear Lake would fall in that spectrum, you're operating with significant uncertainty about whether your investment would track closer to the $54,000 outcomes or the $36,000 ones.

If your child is committed to this specific field, the estimated debt level won't create crushing financial pressure. But given the uncertainty around actual outcomes here, look for internship opportunities or faculty connections that could differentiate this program from its Texas peers—those factors may matter more than the degree itself in determining which end of the earnings range your child reaches.