Geography and Cartography at Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,838/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (49% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (115,700 openings/yr)
ROI
9.0x earnings multiple (6.4x 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 | $534K | $529K | $492K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.1x | 9.0x | 8.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.4x | 6.4x | 5.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 57% | 50% | 37% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 40 | 41 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,512
Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,324
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,050
45% growth from Year 1
About Grand Valley State University
A 95% acceptance rate means Grand Valley State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 19,073 in Allendale, MI.
See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley 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 Grand Valley State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at Grand Valley State University?
A score of 40/100 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 $491,591 in decade earnings vs $533,807 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →