Geography and Cartographyat University of Iowa
Graduates earn $45,566/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $508K; scenarios range from $476K to $510K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Iowa
First-year earnings of $45,566 at University of Iowa come in 19% above the national median of $38,355 for Geography and Cartography programs.
The 11.6x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $45,566 far exceeding the $19,572 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #39 out of 95 programs, University of Iowa's Geography and Cartography offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
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 University of Iowa'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 University of Iowa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Iowa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Iowa, 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 University of Iowa
How does University of Iowa'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.