Chemistry at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

A chemistry degree from Bloomfield College appears positioned right at New Jersey's median for the field, with similar programs across the state suggesting first-year earnings around $45,000 against roughly $25,000 in debt. That 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory—comparable to what you'd see at nearby Rutgers campuses based on state benchmarks. The challenge is that these figures come from peer institutions rather than Bloomfield's own graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program matches those outcomes.

The more revealing comparison involves schools like Montclair State and Rowan, where chemistry graduates report earning $10,000+ more in their first year. That gap matters when you're carrying similar debt loads. Bloomfield serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (69%), and while that mission is admirable, parents should understand that the college's chemistry program hasn't produced enough recent graduates for the Department of Education to publish its own outcomes data—suggesting a small cohort size that may limit networking, lab resources, or specialized coursework.

If your child is committed to chemistry and Bloomfield offers compelling financial aid or proximity advantages, the estimated debt level won't be crushing. But given the uncertainty and the fact that larger state universities nearby show stronger earning potential, this program requires extra due diligence. Visit the labs, ask about graduate school and industry placement rates, and compare net cost carefully against schools with proven track records.