Geography and Cartography at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Similar programs across Wisconsin suggest first-year earnings around $37,500 for geography graduates—squarely in the middle of what this field typically delivers. That's not far from the national median of $38,700, and the estimated debt of $23,850 creates a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, UW-Madison's geography program reports first-year earnings of nearly $43,000, while UW-Milwaukee sees around $32,000, showing the range within the state system alone.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few graduates to report actual outcomes, we're relying on what comparable Wisconsin programs produce. Geography is already a field with modest starting salaries—GIS specialists and urban planners often see earnings grow significantly with experience, but that first year tends to be lean. The estimated debt load is reasonable compared to the national benchmark ($22,700), but there's no guarantee UW-Oshkosh's specific curriculum, internship networks, or career services produce the same results as peer schools.

If your child is committed to geography and wants the UW system experience at a less competitive campus (87% admission rate versus Madison's selectivity), this could work. But push for concrete placement data: where do graduates actually land jobs, and what do they earn three or five years out? The field's real value emerges after that first year, and without actual outcomes data, you're betting on the broader pattern holding true here.