Geography and Cartography (Bachelor's Degree) at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$42,638

Est. from NJ median (3 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$22,359

Est. from national median (86 programs)

Analysis

Geography programs in New Jersey cluster tightly around $42,600 in first-year earnings, and William Paterson's estimated outcomes place it squarely in that range—comparable to Montclair State and reasonably close to Rowan's $44,380. With estimated debt around $22,400, graduates would face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning roughly half a year's salary covers what they owe. That's better than many bachelor's programs and suggests a workable financial foundation for starting a career in GIS, urban planning, or environmental consulting.

The challenge is that these estimates come from just three programs statewide, so there's meaningful uncertainty about what William Paterson graduates specifically achieve. The school serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (44%), and outcomes can vary significantly based on whether graduates pursue technical GIS roles versus general research positions. Geography degrees often require strategic career positioning—cartography and spatial analysis skills command higher salaries than generalist environmental work.

If your child has genuine interest in mapping, data visualization, or spatial analysis and plans to build technical competencies, peer programs suggest this investment pencils out reasonably. But verify what GIS software training and internship connections William Paterson actually provides, since those practical experiences often determine whether graduates land $45,000 analyst positions or $35,000 assistant roles.

Where William Paterson University of New Jersey Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Geography and Cartography bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (4 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne	$15,150	$42,638*	—	$22,359*	—
Rowan UniversityGlassboro	$15,700	$44,380*	$57,420	$25,250*	0.57
Montclair State UniversityMontclair	$14,766	$42,638*	—	—*	—
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick	$17,239	$26,701*	—	—*	—
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 William Paterson University of New Jersey, approximately 44% 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 median of 3 similar programs in NJ. Actual outcomes may vary.