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Geography and Cartography at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,454/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 13.6x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #42 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	$489K	$490K	$462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.6x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.1x	3.1x	2.9x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,956

Out-of-state: $157,320 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,932

-44% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Geography and Cartography graduates start at $42,454/yr — above the $38,355 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Geography and Cartography programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Geography and Cartography's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At #42 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Admission to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is competitive, with 19% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 20,556 in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?

A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Geography and Cartography. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Geography and Cartography careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $462,287 in decade earnings vs $489,306 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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