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Cartography Degree in Lexington, KY — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$66K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$94K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

3.2 yrs

in Lexington

Cost of Living

107

index (100 = avg)

Cartography in Lexington, KY Overview

Lexington, Kentucky (pop. 322,570) has 14 colleges offering Cartography programs. The local cost of living index of 107 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,265/month. Cartography has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for GIS and Remote Sensing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lexington is approximately $66,340.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

14

Public Tuition

$12,360/yr

Private Tuition

$42,200/yr

Room & Board

$10,700/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$8,397/yr

Unemployment

6.4%

Graduation Rate

65%

Cartography Salary in Lexington (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Lexington's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$66,340(+$4,340 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$94,160(+$6,160 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$123,050(+$8,050 vs national)

Note: National average Cartography salary: $62,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lexington adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.

Cartography ROI Calculator for Lexington

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

Public avg: $12,360 | Private avg: $42,200

Lexington avg aid: $8,397/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$92,240

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$28,890

vs HS diploma in Lexington

ROI Payback Period

3.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Lexington

$14,760

Lifetime earnings premium ($107,000) minus total education cost ($92,240)

Student Loan Payoff for Cartography in Lexington

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$92,240
Monthly Payment$1,047
Total Interest$33,444
% of Monthly Income19%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$92,240
Monthly Payment$1,805
Total Interest$16,047
Interest Savings$17,397

Colleges in Lexington for Cartography

University of Kentucky

public

$12,360/yr

$49,440 total

Transylvania University

private

$42,200/yr

$168,800 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

$4,680/yr

Top Employers for Cartography in Lexington

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

USGSEsriGoogleNGA

Key Lexington Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Cartography Job Titles

CartographerGIS AnalystGeospatial Engineer

Cartography Degree in Lexington — 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 Lexington.

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