Geography and Cartography at Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,936/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (49% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (115,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #48 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs

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 $545K $539K $499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.6x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.1x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 50% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,912
Out-of-state: $76,080 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,100
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,453
49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,936 track close to the $38,355 national median for Geography and Cartography programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geography and Cartography programs nationally.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,750 represents roughly 6 months of the $35,936 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #48 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs, Sam Houston State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $35,936 to $53,453 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 18,138 in Huntsville, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Sam Houston State 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 Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston State University?
A score of 47/100 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 $498,945 in decade earnings vs $544,977 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →