Geography and Cartography at University of Miami

In a state where geography programs range from FSU's $35,608 to UF's $43,856 in first-year earnings, University of Miami's estimated position near $41,558 (based on the four Florida programs with available data) suggests middle-of-the-pack returns. The estimated $25,000 debt load—derived from similar private universities nationally—translates to a manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. But context matters: comparable Florida programs typically carry less debt (around $18,600), meaning UM students may be paying a premium for the institution's selectivity and prestige without clear earning advantages over public alternatives.

The reality is that geography and cartography programs are relatively small, which is why the Department of Education suppressed UM's actual outcomes. This makes direct comparison difficult, but the state benchmark suggests first-year earnings just above the national median of $38,726. For a highly selective school (19% admission rate, 1416 SAT average), that's underwhelming—you'd expect the caliber of student and institutional resources to translate into stronger positioning relative to state peers.

Your decision hinges on whether Miami's broader network and location justify the additional debt versus flagship public options. If your child has admission offers from UF or USF, the geography-specific data doesn't make a compelling case for paying more. The field matters less here than the financial trade-off between institutional types.