Home Schools University of Tennessee Geography and Cartography
Social Sciences · Geography and Cartography Rank #40 of 95

Geography and Cartographyat The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Graduates earn $44,553/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $514K; scenarios range from $480K to $516K depending on AI disruption.

Knoxville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
49 AVERAGE
50
Optimistic
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,553
1-year post-graduation
ROI
8.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$514K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Tennessee

At $44,553 per year, Geography and Cartography graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn slightly above the $38,355 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

At 9.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,500 debt-to-$44,553 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #40 out of 95 programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Geography and Cartography offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $44,553 to $52,073 over five years (17% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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
$480K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple8.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$514K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score49/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$516K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score50/100
Earnings Multiple9.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Tennessee'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 University of Tennessee 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
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 University of Tennessee

Other top programs at University of Tennessee

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Tennessee, 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 University of Tennessee

How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Geography and Cartography. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.