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Geography and Cartography at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,210/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

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

ROI 21.2x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #5 of 95 Geography and Cartography programs Top 5%

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	$626K	$611K	$553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.7x	21.2x	19.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	7.0x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	50%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$28,856

Out-of-state: $87,504 (7.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,980

-104% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,750

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,598

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,210/yr, edging above the $38,355 national average for Geography and Cartography — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 21.2x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,750 debt-to-$42,210 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #5 out of 95 programs, University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Geography and Cartography program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $42,210 to $65,598 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Charlotte has a 80% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 23,567 in Charlotte, NC.

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

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 Charlotte

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 University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Geography and Cartography program score?

This program scores 61/100, 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.

Why does University of North Carolina at Charlotte rank so high for Geography and Cartography?

The #5 ranking out of 95 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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