Geography and Cartographyat James Madison University
Graduates earn $45,094/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $569K; scenarios range from $521K to $578K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at James Madison University
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.
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 James Madison 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 James Madison University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at James Madison University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at James Madison 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 James Madison University
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.