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Cartography Degree in Providence, RI — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$87K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$124K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

3.5 yrs

in Providence

Cost of Living

141

index (100 = avg)

Cartography in Providence, RI Overview

Providence, Rhode Island (pop. 190,934) has 7 colleges offering Cartography programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,476/month. Cartography has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for GIS and Remote Sensing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Providence is approximately $87,420.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

7

Public Tuition

$15,259/yr

Private Tuition

$59,540/yr

Room & Board

$17,733/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$15,708/yr

Unemployment

4.3%

Graduation Rate

54%

Cartography Salary in Providence (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Providence's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$87,420(+$25,420 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$124,080(+$36,080 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$162,150(+$47,150 vs national)

Note: National average Cartography salary: $62,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Providence adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.

Cartography ROI Calculator for Providence

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

Public avg: $15,259 | Private avg: $59,540

Providence avg aid: $15,708/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$131,968

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$38,070

vs HS diploma in Providence

ROI Payback Period

3.5 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Providence

$9,032

Lifetime earnings premium ($141,000) minus total education cost ($131,968)

Student Loan Payoff for Cartography in Providence

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$131,968
Monthly Payment$1,498
Total Interest$47,848
% of Monthly Income21%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$131,968
Monthly Payment$2,582
Total Interest$22,958
Interest Savings$24,890

Colleges in Providence for Cartography

Brown University

private

$62,680/yr

$250,720 total

Providence College

private

$56,400/yr

$225,600 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Community College of Rhode Island

$4,994/yr

Top Employers for Cartography in Providence

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

USGSEsriGoogleNGA

Key Providence Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Cartography Job Titles

CartographerGIS AnalystGeospatial Engineer

Cartography Degree in Providence — 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 Providence.

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