Geography and Cartographyat Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Graduates earn $44,543/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $584K; scenarios range from $533K to $596K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
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.
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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville'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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, 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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
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.