Compare 5 Geography. programs in Indiana. Average earnings: $36,623.
With top graduates earning $49,490, Geography stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $13K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Ball State University's Geography program leads with graduates earning $49,490, well above the $36,623 average across Indiana's 5 programs. Valparaiso University follows at $37,616, while Indiana University-Indianapolis rounds out the top three at $35,420. The data confirms program-specific factors drive these outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Ball State graduates borrow $23,250 and face just an 11.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $49,490 | 17 | $23,250 | Good | $20,800 | Challenging |
| #2 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | $37,616 | 8 | $26,942 | Challenging | $28,500 | High |
| #3 | $35,420 | 7 | $20,000 | Challenging | $17,205 | High | |
| #4 | $32,569 | 14 | $19,684 | High | $10,909 | High | |
| #5 | $28,019 | 7 | $19,509 | High | $32,850 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
