Geography and Cartography at Ball State University
Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,274/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (115,700 openings/yr)
ROI
12.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Geography and Cartography graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $542K | $536K | $497K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.6x | 12.5x | 11.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.7x | 4.7x | 4.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 57% | 50% | 37% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 43 | 44 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,032
Out-of-state: $115,064 (4.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,750
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,447
53% growth from Year 1
About Ball State University
Ball State University accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,770 students in Muncie, IN.
See all programs and financial aid at Ball State University →Top Career Paths
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Geographers
$97,200/yr
Geography teachers, postsecondary
$86,730/yr
Compare & Explore
Geography and Cartography at Other Schools
Other Majors at Ball State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ball State University's Geography and Cartography program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →