Chemistry at Beloit College

Looking at the debt load first, Beloit's chemistry graduates carry roughly $22,000—meaningfully lower than both the state median ($25,625) and national average ($24,000) for this major. That's a tangible advantage when similar programs in Wisconsin suggest first-year earnings around $48,900, putting this program at a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The catch is that these earning figures are estimates drawn from other Wisconsin chemistry programs, not actual outcomes tracked for Beloit's specific graduates. The DOE suppresses earnings data when cohorts are too small, which is common at liberal arts colleges. By year four, however, reported earnings reach $51,254—slightly above what peer programs typically show in year one and competitive with larger state universities like UW-Madison and UW-Eau Claire that produce similar early outcomes.

What works in this program's favor is the combination of selective admissions (SAT 1318) and relatively modest debt. Chemistry degrees generally lead to stable lab work, quality control positions, or graduate school preparation, and starting near the state median while owing less than peers creates reasonable financial flexibility. The uncertainty around first-year outcomes matters less when the debt burden is this controlled and four-year earnings look solid.