# Appalachian State University: Geography (bachelor's)

Boone, NC. IPEDS 197869, CIP 45.07. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/appalachian-state-university/majors/geography

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $41,648
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $58,289 (U.S. median for this major: $57,751 across 116 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $17,750 (U.S. median $22,851)
- Rank in NC: 1 of 4 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the NC median for this major (4 colleges, $56,370): +$1,919
- Versus the U.S. median: +$538

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.23 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $58,289 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Geography at NC colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | $58,289 | $17,750 | $16,836 | 75% |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $57,208 | $23,954 | $15,435 | 69% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $55,532 | $22,851 | $10,965 | 56% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $49,476 | not reported | $11,655 | 91% |

## Careers
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists (SOC 17-1021): median wage not reported metro, $81,080 NC, $81,390 U.S.; U.S. jobs 7.4% by 2035
- Geographers (SOC 19-3092): median wage not reported metro, $73,130 NC, $102,040 U.S.; U.S. jobs -2.1% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).