Geography and Cartography at University of Maryland-College Park

UMD's geography program delivers something increasingly rare: strong earnings growth that nearly doubles the typical starting salary within four years. That 61% jump from $41K to $66K suggests graduates are entering fields where their spatial analysis skills become more valuable with experience—a trajectory worth noting when other liberal arts degrees often plateau earlier.

The $24,441 debt load sits right at Maryland's state median for this major, but compare outcomes: UMD grads earn nearly double what the typical Maryland geography graduate makes ($65,748 versus $33,084 by year four). Among the eight Maryland schools offering this program, only UMD provides comprehensive data, but the gap between UMD's outcomes and peers like Salisbury (whose grads start at $25K) is substantial. The 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation improves dramatically as earnings climb, making the initial investment manageable even if your child starts in an entry-level GIS or urban planning role.

The caveat is that first year: $41K in the DC-Baltimore corridor isn't comfortable, and your child needs to be prepared for that runway period. But the data suggests geography grads who stick with it—likely moving into federal agencies, tech mapping companies, or planning consultancies—see their compensation catch up. If your student is genuinely interested in spatial technology and data visualization, this program's trajectory justifies the moderate debt.