Chemistry (Bachelor's Degree) at Bradley University

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$44,860

Est. from IL median (4 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$24,994

Est. from national median (56 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

Based on comparable chemistry programs in Illinois, Bradley's graduates can expect first-year earnings around $44,860—squarely in the middle of the state's range. This lands above the national median for chemistry bachelor's degrees ($42,581) and matches the Illinois median exactly, suggesting the program performs competitively with state peers. The flagship in Urbana-Champaign edges ahead by about $2,000, but Bradley appears to track closely with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University.

The estimated debt load of nearly $25,000 is worth noting—it's slightly above both the national median ($24,000) and Illinois median ($22,902) for chemistry programs. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, graduates would be looking at manageable but not negligible loan payments in their first year out. Similar chemistry programs suggest this debt level is typical for private institutions, though families should verify actual financial aid packages since Bradley's mix of merit and need-based aid can vary significantly by student.

The practical picture: if your child can secure strong financial aid to bring that debt estimate down, this program appears positioned alongside solid state university options. Without substantial aid, you'd be paying a premium for outcomes that peer programs in Illinois deliver at lower cost. Request a detailed financial aid projection early in the process to see where Bradley's actual offer lands.

Where Bradley University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all chemistry bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (47 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Bradley UniversityPeoria	$39,680	$44,860*	—	$24,994*	—
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign	$16,004	$47,034*	$63,276	$21,500*	0.46
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville	$12,922	$46,659*	$57,878	$25,000*	0.54
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb	$12,700	$43,061*	$56,116	$23,023*	0.53
Western Illinois UniversityMacomb	$14,952	$31,980*	$57,236	$27,000*	0.84
National Median	—	$42,581*	—	$24,000*	0.56

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with chemistry graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

$86,620/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Bradley University, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.