Chemistry at Benedictine University

In Illinois, chemistry bachelor's programs at major universities report first-year earnings ranging from $32,000 to $47,000, and Benedictine's estimated outcome of $44,860 based on comparable Illinois programs places it solidly in the middle of this pack. With an estimated debt load of about $25,000—close to both state and national medians—graduates would face a monthly payment around $280 on a standard 10-year plan, representing roughly 7.5% of monthly gross income. That's a manageable burden for a STEM credential, though not the bargain that lower-debt programs might offer.

The challenge here is that neither the earnings nor debt figures come from Benedictine's actual graduates—both are derived from peer programs because too few students completed this major for the Department of Education to publish outcomes. This makes it impossible to know whether Benedictine's chemistry program performs like Northern Illinois (where graduates earn $43,000) or more like the state leaders approaching $47,000. Given that the admission rate of 77% and substantial Pell population suggest a less selective environment than Illinois Urbana-Champaign, outcomes closer to the middle of the state range seem plausible, but that's speculation.

If your child is set on Benedictine for non-academic reasons—location, size, or campus culture—these estimated figures suggest chemistry wouldn't be a financial disaster. But if program quality and career outcomes are the priority, you'd be making that choice without the actual track record that larger programs can demonstrate.