Home Schools Eastern Michigan University Geography and Cartography
Social Sciences · Geography and Cartography Rank #67 of 95

Geography and Cartographyat Eastern Michigan University

Graduates earn $41,103/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $482K; scenarios range from $456K to $481K depending on AI disruption.

Ypsilanti, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
43 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,103
1-year post-graduation
ROI
5.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$482K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Eastern Michigan University

First-year earnings of $41,103 at Eastern Michigan University come in 7% above the national median of $38,355 for Geography and Cartography programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Geography and Cartography's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $41,103 far exceeding the $15,001 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #67 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs, Eastern Michigan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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
$456K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple7.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$482K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple7.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$481K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple7.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Eastern Michigan University'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 Eastern Michigan University 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 Eastern Michigan University

Other top programs at Eastern Michigan University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Eastern Michigan 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Geography and Cartography at Eastern Michigan University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at Eastern Michigan University?

A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Geography and Cartography. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Geography and Cartography careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $456,499 in decade earnings vs $480,523 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.