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Geography and Cartography at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,398/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #37 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	$639K	$623K	$561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.7x	10.4x	9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.4x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	49	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,860

Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,300

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,000

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,880

73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,398 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 10.4x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,000 in median debt against $37,398 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #37 out of 95 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Geography and Cartography offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $37,398 to $64,880 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara admits 28% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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-Santa Barbara

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara'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.

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