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Geography and Cartography at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,913/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 15.4x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs Top 10%

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	$736K	$709K	$625K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.0x	15.4x	13.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.4x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,020

Out-of-state: $161,224 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,360

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$77,031

88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,913 per year, Geography and Cartography graduates from University of Maryland-College Park earn slightly above the $38,355 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 15.4x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$40,913 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #7 ranking out of 95 Geography and Cartography programs nationally puts University of Maryland-College Park in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $40,913 to $77,031 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Maryland-College Park

University of Maryland-College Park accepts 45% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 30,246 students enrolled in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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 Maryland-College Park

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Maryland-College Park's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 60/100, 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 →