U.S. median for this major: $57,751.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 30% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $22,851.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $23,169. College Scorecard.
Appalachian State University Geography: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Appalachian State University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,325 | $39,445 | 1.6 years |
| $30–48k | $11,600 | $49,068 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $15,204 | $64,313 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $20,840 | $88,153 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $22,382 | $94,676 | 3.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (58% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Geography graduates 4 years after graduating ($58,289) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,773 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Geography at North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Geography graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appalachian State University | $58,289 | $17,750 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $57,208 | $23,954 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $55,532 | $22,851 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $49,476 | — | $11,655 | 91% |
3 more North Carolina colleges offer Geography but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Geography graduates
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Geographers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -2.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Appalachian State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Appalachian State University
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $51,836
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Appalachian State University
- Political Science$54,344
- Sociology$47,180
- Economics$67,285
- Anthropology$42,107
Appalachian State University Geography questions
How much do Appalachian State University Geography graduates earn?
Geography graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median $58,289 four years after graduating and $41,648 one year after. The U.S. median for Geography graduates across 116 colleges is $57,751.
How much debt do Appalachian State University Geography graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Geography graduates of Appalachian State University is $17,750, about 30% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $22,851.
Is Appalachian State University a good school for Geography in North Carolina?
On pay, Geography graduates of Appalachian State University earn $58,289 four years out, $1,919 above the median for the same major across 4 North Carolina colleges ($56,370) and $538 above the U.S. median ($57,751). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Appalachian State University rank for Geography in North Carolina?
Of 4 North Carolina colleges reporting Geography graduate earnings, Appalachian State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Geography graduates get?
A common career is cartographers and photogrammetrists, with a median wage of $81,080 in North Carolina and $81,390 nationally. Others include geographers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Appalachian State University Geography: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university/majors/geography (College Scorecard and BLS data).