Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at Wayne State College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,726

Est. from national median (95 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 looks manageable on paper, but the underlying numbers tell a more sobering story. Based on national medians for geography and cartography bachelor's programs, Wayne State College graduates likely face around $22,400 in debt for first-year earnings near $38,700—enough to handle loan payments, but leaving little margin for error. These estimates, drawn from similar programs nationwide, suggest this credential falls squarely in the middle of the pack for geography degrees, neither particularly strong nor weak compared to national outcomes.

The challenge is less about the debt load and more about whether these earnings trajectories align with Nebraska's cost of living and career opportunities. Geography and cartography positions often require further specialization or relocation to access higher-paying roles in GIS, urban planning, or environmental consulting. With only five schools in Nebraska offering this program and no reported outcomes data to compare locally, prospective students should investigate whether Wayne State's curriculum emphasizes the technical skills—particularly GIS software and data analysis—that employers value most.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is career intent. If your student plans to pursue graduate work or specialized certifications in high-demand areas like geospatial intelligence, this foundation could prove worthwhile. If they're expecting immediate career momentum with just the bachelor's degree, tempering expectations would be wise given the modest starting salary estimates.

Where Wayne State College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all geography and cartography bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Wayne State CollegeWayne	$7,970	$38,726*	—	$22,359*	—
Park UniversityParkville	$16,400	$58,786*	—	—*	—
Dartmouth CollegeHanover	$65,739	$56,756*	—	—*	—
Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station	$13,099	$54,204*	$64,337	$16,479*	0.30
University of Nevada-RenoReno	$8,994	$53,079*	—	—*	—
George Washington UniversityWashington	$64,990	$52,883*	—	$25,000*	0.47
National Median	—	$38,726*	—	$22,657*	0.59

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with geography and cartography graduates

Geographers

Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

$97,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data.

$78,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps.

$51,940/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Wayne State College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 95 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.