Geography and Cartography at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The small sample size here demands caution, but the preliminary numbers suggest UIUC's geography program delivers respectable outcomes—graduating students earn about $42,000 in their first year while carrying $25,000 in debt. That 0.59 debt ratio is manageable by most measures, though notably, the top geography program in Illinois (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) produces graduates earning $2,300 more annually. You're paying for the UIUC brand at a selective institution (average SAT of 1418), but the early earnings advantage over the state median is modest—just $800 more than the typical Illinois geography graduate.

What matters most here is recognizing that geography and cartography isn't a high-earning field nationally. The $42,000 starting salary places UIUC in the 73rd percentile nationally, meaning this program outperforms most peers, yet the absolute dollar figure remains relatively low. The debt load is reasonable but not exceptional—landing at the 32nd percentile nationally means about two-thirds of geography programs leave students with more debt.

For parents weighing this investment: if your child is genuinely passionate about geography and spatial analysis, UIUC provides solid preparation without crushing debt. But if they're uncertain about the field, understand that $42,000 represents a ceiling based on limited data, not a floor. The sample size makes it impossible to know if these outcomes are consistent year-over-year.