WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-6% vs national median100 grads tracked

Geography and Cartography at Western Illinois University

Ranked 87th of 128 bachelor's programs in Geography and Cartography by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,984
middle 50%: $27,237 – $78,529
Median · 5 years out
$55,181
middle 50%: $38,393 – $71,360
Median · 10 years out
$68,521
middle 50%: $50,767 – $89,527

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Geography and Cartography (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Geography and Cartography earn a median $37,984 one year after graduating, rising to $68,521 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $58,574 for this field, ranking 87th of 128 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.7 yrs
≈ $8,945 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Iowa
$55,770 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii at Manoa
$55,665 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$55,504 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$55,435 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$55,111 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$55,017 · 5 yrs out
Worcester State University
$54,679 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$54,679 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Missouri State University
$54,227 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$54,163 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

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