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Geography and Cartography at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,328/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #35 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	$635K	$619K	$558K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.3x	10.0x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.2x	3.8x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,342

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,328/yr, roughly in line with the $38,355 national median for Geography and Cartography. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 10.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 49% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $39,328 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #35 out of 95 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Geography and Cartography offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $39,328 to $65,342 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 30,435 students in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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

How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 50/100, 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 →