Chemistry at Bethel College-North Newton

Is a chemistry degree from a small Kansas college worth $25,000 in debt when peer programs suggest typical first-year earnings around $42,600? That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 looks manageable on paper—you'd owe roughly seven months of gross salary—but the context matters considerably. Similar bachelor's chemistry programs nationally cluster around these same figures, and other Kansas programs with reported data (like Fort Hays State at $44,261) show comparable outcomes, suggesting this estimate reflects genuine regional market conditions rather than Bethel-specific performance.

The real question is what comes next. Chemistry bachelor's holders often pursue graduate school or research positions where initial earnings matter less than long-term trajectory. If your student plans to work immediately after graduation in Kansas—perhaps at one of the state's agricultural or pharmaceutical companies—these estimated earnings align with what similar programs produce. However, without actual outcome data from Bethel's own graduates, you're betting that their small program (evident from the suppressed data) delivers comparable preparation to larger state universities that do report figures.

The straightforward path: if your student is set on chemistry and Bethel offers other compelling reasons (small classes, specific research opportunities, geographic preference), the estimated financial picture doesn't wave red flags. But if chemistry is just one option among several, programs at Fort Hays or Wichita State offer similar estimated outcomes with the advantage of verified graduate data and potentially stronger industry connections.