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Geography and Cartography at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,776/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs Top 50%

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	$676K	$655K	$585K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.3x	11.9x	10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.7x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	51	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,296

4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,424

86% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,776 track close to the $38,355 national median for Geography and Cartography programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 11.9x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $13,296 in median debt against $36,776 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #33 out of 95 programs, University of California-Los Angeles's Geography and Cartography offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,776 to $68,424 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with 33,040 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Los Angeles →

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 University of California-Los Angeles

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Los Angeles's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 51/100, 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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →