Geography and Cartographyat Appalachian State University
Graduates earn $41,648/yr in their first year — about 9.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $625K; scenarios range from $563K to $642K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State’s Geography and Cartography program consistently produces strong outcomes, reflecting its robust curriculum and practical applications. Your success stems from developing highly marketable GIS, data analysis, and spatial reasoning skills, which are critical in today's economy. While Boone isn't a major metro, graduates are well-prepared for diverse roles with state agencies, environmental consulting firms, utility companies, and even tech companies seeking spatial data expertise across the Carolinas and beyond. Although some mapping tasks might see increasing automation, the program's emphasis on critical thinking and interpreting complex spatial data ensures you'll manage and design systems, not just operate them. To maximize your potential, actively seek out internships that apply your GIS and cartography skills to real-world projects.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Appalachian State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Geography and Cartography
How Appalachian State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Appalachian State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Appalachian State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Geography and Cartography offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Geography and Cartography trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Geography and Cartography at Appalachian State University
How does Appalachian State University's Geography and Cartography program score?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Geography and Cartography graduates.
How vulnerable is Geography and Cartography to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Geography and Cartography careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 49% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Appalachian State University rank so high for Geography and Cartography?
The #4 ranking out of 95 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.