Home Schools Texas State University Geography and Cartography
Social Sciences · Geography and Cartography Rank #26 of 95

Geography and Cartographyat Texas State University

Graduates earn $44,909/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $530K; scenarios range from $492K to $535K depending on AI disruption.

San Marcos, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
53 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,909
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$530K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas State University

At $44,909 per year, Geography and Cartography graduates from Texas State University earn slightly above the $38,355 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.6x 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.

The median debt load of $20,123 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #26 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs, Texas State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $44,909 to $54,724 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$492K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$530K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple11.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$535K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Geography and Cartography graduates typically work

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.

1
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
2
Geographers
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$97,200/yr
High
3
Geography teachers, postsecondary
+3.3% 10-yr growth · 300 openings/yr
$86,730/yr
Moderate
4
Cartographers and photogrammetrists
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$78,380/yr
High
5
Surveying and mapping technicians
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 7,600 openings/yr
$51,940/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Geography and Cartography

How Texas State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Park University
MO · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
8.0x
ROI
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
45
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
Same state (TX)
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
63
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
12.6x
ROI
University of Nevada-Reno
NV · Public
56
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
13.8x
ROI
George Washington University
DC · Private nonprofit
44
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
Also at Texas State University

Other top programs at Texas State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas State 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Geography and Cartography at Texas State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at Texas State University?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geography and Cartography field.

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 $492,133 in decade earnings vs $534,629 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.