Geography and Cartographyat George Mason University
Graduates earn $49,568/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $619K; scenarios range from $558K to $635K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at George Mason University
George Mason's Geography and Cartography program truly capitalizes on its location within the D.C. metro area. This proximity provides unparalleled access to federal agencies like the USGS, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and various intelligence and defense contractors, all with immense demand for geospatial expertise. You'll find strong recruiting pipelines into these organizations, where skills in GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis are highly valued, driving competitive starting salaries and career advancement. While some cartographic tasks face automation, focusing on advanced data management, strategic analysis, and interdisciplinary applications will position you for leadership roles. Building strong analytical and project management skills is key to leveraging this unique labor market.
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 George Mason 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 George Mason University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at George Mason University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at George Mason 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 George Mason University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at George Mason University?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geography and Cartography field.
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 $558,453 in decade earnings vs $635,345 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.