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Geography and Cartography at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,094/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (115,700 openings/yr)

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #23 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs Top 25%

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	$578K	$569K	$521K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.5x	9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.6x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,304

Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$87,264

-61% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,642

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

James Madison University's Geography and Cartography graduates start at $45,094/yr — above the $38,355 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 10.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $45,094 in annual earnings.

Ranked #23 out of 95 programs, James Madison University's Geography and Cartography program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $45,094 to $60,642 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About James Madison University

A 76% acceptance rate means James Madison University is accessible to most applicants, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

Top Career Paths

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Geographers $97,200/yr

Geography teachers, postsecondary $86,730/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Geography and Cartography at Other Schools

Other Majors at James Madison University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does James Madison University's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Geography and Cartography graduates.

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.

Why does James Madison University rank so high for Geography and Cartography?

The #23 ranking out of 95 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →