Geography and Cartography at Western Oregon University

Geography programs in Oregon show a wide earnings range, and Western Oregon's estimated outcomes fall right in the middle. Based on comparable bachelor's programs nationwide, graduates here are likely earning around $39,000 in their first year—close to the national median but notably below what University of Oregon produces ($45,000) and slightly above Portland State's graduates. With estimated debt around $22,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 suggests manageable repayment, though geography degrees don't typically command high starting salaries anywhere.

What makes this harder to assess is that these figures come from peer programs nationally, not Western Oregon's actual graduates—the sample size here is simply too small for the Department of Education to publish reliable data. The state median for Oregon geography programs sits slightly higher at $40,000, which could mean Western Oregon performs similarly or that rural Monmouth's job market presents different opportunities than Portland or Eugene.

For families weighing this investment, the estimated debt burden appears reasonable for a geography degree, but the field itself rarely delivers strong early earnings. If your student is passionate about GIS, cartography, or urban planning, they should explore whether Western Oregon provides the technical training and internship connections that boost outcomes in this major—those practical elements matter more than the degree itself in geography careers.