Geography and Cartography at University of Nevada-Reno

University of Nevada-Reno's geography program produces graduates who significantly outperform their peers nationally, with first-year earnings of $53,079 placing them in the 95th percentile—well above the national median of $38,726 for this field. While the debt figure of $22,359 is estimated from similar institutions nationally (the school's small graduate cohort means actual debt isn't publicly reported), this amount aligns closely with what geography majors typically borrow nationwide. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.42, meaning graduates would owe less than five months of their first-year salary.

Geography and cartography programs vary widely in career outcomes, but UNR's strong performance suggests graduates are landing in Nevada's better-paying sectors—likely spatial analysis roles in government, natural resources, or gaming/hospitality operations where geographic information systems command premium salaries. The national data shows most geography programs produce starting salaries in the high $30,000s to low $40,000s range, making UNR's $53,000 outcome genuinely distinctive.

For a parent evaluating this program, the combination of above-average earnings and modest estimated debt makes this a stronger value proposition than most geography degrees. The real risk is that we're working with estimated rather than actual debt figures, so the borrowing picture could differ. Still, even if actual debt ran several thousand dollars higher than the estimate, the strong earnings would likely cushion that difference.