Chemistry at California State University-Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach's Chemistry program posts impressive numbers—$50,553 starting salary and just $15,680 in median debt—but the small sample size means these figures could shift dramatically with more data. That said, the fundamentals look strong: graduates earn more than 95% of chemistry majors nationwide while carrying about 35% less debt than the national median. The 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means students can reasonably pay off their loans in under four months of gross earnings, one of the better financial pictures you'll find in any science program.

The California context adds an interesting wrinkle. While this program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide—trailing UC Berkeley and several other CSU campuses—it's still above the state median and delivers UC-competitive results at CSU prices. For families balancing cost and outcomes, that matters. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting the school successfully serves lower-income students who need strong earnings outcomes most. The 32% earnings growth between years one and four indicates solid career trajectory, not just a temporary bump.

The small sample size is the main asterisk here. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, one exceptional cohort could skew everything. But if your child is considering chemistry and wants to stay in California without paying UC tuition, these outcomes—even allowing for statistical noise—suggest Long Beach delivers on its promise.