Home › Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville › Geography and Cartography

Geography and Cartography at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,543/yr (16% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 11.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #15 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	$596K	$584K	$533K
Earnings Multiple	11.5x	11.3x	10.3x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$51,688

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,784

-6% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,750

5.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,741

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,543 per year, Geography and Cartography graduates from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville earn slightly above the $38,355 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 11.3x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $18,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #15 out of 95 programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Geography and Cartography program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,543 to $62,741 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

With 97% of applicants admitted, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 8,836 in Edwardsville, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville →

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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

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

How does Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 56/100, 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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville rank so high for Geography and Cartography?

The #15 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 →