Chemistry at Boston University

Boston University's chemistry graduates earn $39,157 one year out—roughly $8,000 below the Massachusetts median for chemistry majors and in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a striking underperformance for an institution with an 11% acceptance rate and 1473 average SAT. Public universities like Salem State and Bridgewater State produce chemistry grads earning $10,000-$16,000 more annually, making this one of the weaker chemistry outcomes in a state with strong performance across the board.

The $27,000 in debt sits at the state median and is relatively modest (5th percentile nationally), which provides some cushion. The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, but it reflects earnings that lag behind what most Massachusetts chemistry programs deliver. When peer institutions like Northeastern place graduates at $62,511 and even Holy Cross hits the state median of $47,313, BU's results look particularly disappointing.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. If your child is considering BU for chemistry, probe deeper into career outcomes and talk to recent alumni. The combination of competitive admissions and below-average earnings warrants extra scrutiny before committing to what's likely substantial tuition costs at a private institution.