Geography and Cartographyat University of South Carolina-Columbia
Graduates earn $46,929/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Geography and Cartography average. Base-case 10-year earnings $521K; scenarios range from $486K to $525K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Carolina
Graduates earn $46,929/yr, edging above the $38,355 national average for Geography and Cartography — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
At $21,500 in median debt against $46,929 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #29 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $53,719 are relatively flat compared to the $46,929 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 South Carolina'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 South Carolina stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Carolina
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Geography and Cartography at University of South Carolina-Columbia?
A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Geography and Cartography field.
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 $485,529 in decade earnings vs $524,601 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.