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Cartography Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026

Cartography degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$64K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$91K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

3.2 yrs

in Athens

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Cartography in Athens, GA Overview

Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Cartography programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. Cartography has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for GIS and Remote Sensing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Athens is approximately $63,860.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

11

Public Tuition

$12,080/yr

Private Tuition

$42,791/yr

Room & Board

$10,251/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$13,146/yr

Unemployment

5.4%

Graduation Rate

50%

Cartography Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$63,860(+$1,860 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$90,640(+$2,640 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$118,450(+$3,450 vs national)

Note: National average Cartography salary: $62,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Cartography ROI Calculator for Athens

Estimate your return on investment for a Cartography degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791

Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$89,324

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$27,810

vs HS diploma in Athens

ROI Payback Period

3.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Athens

$13,676

Lifetime earnings premium ($103,000) minus total education cost ($89,324)

Student Loan Payoff for Cartography in Athens

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$89,324
Monthly Payment$1,014
Total Interest$32,387
% of Monthly Income19%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$89,324
Monthly Payment$1,748
Total Interest$15,540
Interest Savings$16,847

Colleges in Athens for Cartography

University of Georgia

public

$12,080/yr

$48,320 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Athens Technical College

$3,152/yr

Top Employers for Cartography in Athens

Athens offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Cartography graduates. National top employers in this field include:

USGSEsriGoogleNGA

Key Athens Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Cartography Job Titles

CartographerGIS AnalystGeospatial Engineer

Cartography Degree in Athens — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Cartography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Athens.

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