Home Schools Augustana College Geography and Cartography
Social Sciences · Geography and Cartography Rank #81 of 95

Geography and Cartographyat Augustana College

Graduates earn $40,683/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $479K; scenarios range from $455K to $478K depending on AI disruption.

Rock Island, IL Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
37 AT RISK
38
Optimistic
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,683
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$479K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Augustana College

Graduates earn $40,683/yr, edging above the $38,355 national average for Geography and Cartography — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 2.4x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$40,683 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #81 out of 95 programs, Augustana College's financial outcomes for Geography and Cartography trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$455K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple2.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$479K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$478K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Augustana College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Geography and Cartography graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Geographers
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$97,200/yr
High
3
Geography teachers, postsecondary
+3.3% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$86,730/yr
Moderate
4
Cartographers and photogrammetrists
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$78,380/yr
High
5
Surveying and mapping technicians
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 7,600 openings/yr
$51,940/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Geography and Cartography

How Augustana College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Park University
MO · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
8.0x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
63
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
12.6x
ROI
University of Nevada-Reno
NV · Public
56
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
13.8x
ROI
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Also at Augustana College

Other top programs at Augustana College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Augustana College, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Geography and Cartography at Augustana College

How does Augustana College's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Geography and Cartography. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

How affordable is Geography and Cartography at Augustana College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $199,336, but the average net cost is $49,748 — a 75% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.