Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,726

Est. from national median (95 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

The four-year earnings jump tells an encouraging story here. While comparable geography programs nationally suggest starting salaries around $39,000, West Chester graduates who stay in the field see earnings rise to $59,000 by year four—a 52% increase that outpaces typical early-career wage growth. That trajectory matters more than the modest start, particularly when the estimated debt load sits at $22,000, giving this program a manageable 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio.

Geography and cartography degrees have become increasingly valuable as GIS technology and spatial analysis permeate more industries, from urban planning to environmental consulting to tech companies building mapping platforms. The field's technical skills transfer well, which likely explains why mid-career earnings for this program substantially exceed the starting point. Pennsylvania's proximity to major metropolitan job markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.—all with significant government and private sector demand for geographic specialists—provides practical advantages for West Chester graduates.

The $22,000 debt estimate aligns closely with what similar bachelor's programs typically produce, and at less than half the four-year earnings figure, it shouldn't dominate your child's financial life after graduation. The real question is whether they're prepared for the technical coursework and whether they have genuine interest in spatial analysis work, since the earnings growth appears tied to developing marketable GIS and data visualization skills rather than generic geography knowledge.

Where West Chester University of Pennsylvania Stands

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

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
West Chester University of Pennsylvania	—	$58,950	—
University of Maryland-College Park	$40,913	$65,748	+61%
Texas A&M University-College Station	$54,204	$64,337	+19%
The University of Texas at Austin	$36,878	$61,313	+66%
University of California-Los Angeles	$36,776	$60,363	+64%

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
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester	$10,687	$38,726*	$58,950	$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 West Chester University of Pennsylvania, approximately 25% 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.