Geography and Cartography: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 17 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$59,554 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$59,554Median year-4 earnings
$17,932Average institution net-price context
$22,197Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Geography and Cartography
How much do Geography and Cartography undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $59,554 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $22,197. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Geography and Cartography?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $57,518 to $64,668 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Geography and Cartography?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 5 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$59,554Median reported earnings · year 4
$56,415Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,197Median federal debt
69thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
265IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
15With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 15 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,554
- Federal debt
- $22,197
- Reporting programs
- 17
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,751
- Federal debt
- $22,716
- Reporting programs
- 130
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,018
- Federal debt
- $20,830
- Reporting programs
- 4
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,165
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 17
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,247
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$57,518National median$59,55475th percentile$64,668
15 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$67,492Observed year-4 earnings$41,828
DePaul University$30,902 price · $76,354 earningsPortland Community College$10,405 price · $67,492 earningsUniversity of Pittsburgh-Johnstown$18,202 price · $64,681 earningsUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$30,434 price · $64,681 earningsTemple University$28,198 price · $64,668 earningsFront Range Community College$13,031 price · $62,464 earningsTexas State University$16,805 price · $61,225 earningsFlorida Atlantic University$8,752 price · $59,554 earningsMinnesota State University-Mankato$19,139 price · $59,174 earningsEastern Washington University$13,886 price · $58,134 earningsPlymouth State University$19,216 price · $57,887 earningsShippensburg University of Pennsylvania$23,726 price · $57,518 earningsGrand Valley State University$16,317 price · $56,401 earningsAppalachian State University$16,836 price · $50,551 earningsCollege of Southern Idaho$6,095 price · $41,828 earnings
$6,095Annual college-wide average net price$30,434
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
17 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1DePaul University$76,3542Portland Community College$67,4923University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown$64,6814University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$64,6815Temple University$64,6686Front Range Community College$62,4647Texas State University$61,2258Florida Atlantic University$59,5549Minnesota State University-Mankato$59,17410Eastern Washington University$58,134Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Managers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileGeographers$102,040 median wage1,400 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-3092-2.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,770–$136,660 10th–90th percentileGeography Teachers, Postsecondary$97,590 median wage3,330 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1064+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,550–$165,460 10th–90th percentileSurveying and Mapping Technicians$54,240 median wage58,010 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-3031+5.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,520–$81,630 10th–90th percentileCartographers and Photogrammetrists$81,390 median wage14,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$53,740–$126,950 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DePaul UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Chicago, IL | $76,354 | $23,412 | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,902 |
| 2 | Portland Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Portland, OR | $67,492 | $21,644 | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,405 |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Johnstown, PA | $64,681 | $25,000 | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,202 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Pittsburgh, PA | $64,681 | $25,000 | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,434 |
| 5 | Temple UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Philadelphia, PA | $64,668 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,198 |
| 6 | Front Range Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Westminster, CO | $62,464 | $20,354 | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,031 |
| 7 | Texas State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | San Marcos, TX | $61,225 | $25,385 | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,805 |
| 8 | Florida Atlantic UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boca Raton, FL | $59,554 | $19,692 | WithheldBaseline needed | $8,752 |
| 9 | Minnesota State University-MankatoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mankato, MN | $59,174 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,139 |
| 10 | Eastern Washington UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Cheney, WA | $58,134 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,886 |
| 11 | Plymouth State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Plymouth, NH | $57,887 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,216 |
| 12 | Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Shippensburg, PA | $57,518 | $22,750 | WithheldBaseline needed | $23,726 |
| 13 | Grand Valley State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Allendale, MI | $56,401 | $23,250 | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,317 |
| 14 | Appalachian State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boone, NC | $50,551 | $17,750 | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,836 |
| 15 | College of Southern IdahoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Twin Falls, ID | $41,828 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,095 |
| 16 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tempe, AZ | Not available | $19,691 | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,967 |
| 17 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scottsdale, AZ | Not available | $19,691 | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.