Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,581
Est. from national median (205 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,994
Est. from national median (56 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 is solid territory for a bachelor's degree—based on national chemistry program data, graduates would be earning enough to manage typical student debt without financial strain. The challenge here is that Central Christian College enrolls a significant population of Pell-eligible students (43%), yet we're working entirely from estimates since actual outcomes aren't reported. Similar Kansas programs at Fort Hays State and Wichita State show first-year earnings around $44,000, slightly above the national median this estimate draws from, suggesting chemistry degrees in the state generally lead to entry-level positions that pay.

The estimated $24,994 in debt aligns closely with both state and national benchmarks for chemistry programs, indicating typical borrowing patterns. If these estimates hold true, your child would face monthly loan payments around $280—manageable on an initial salary in the low $40,000s. The real question is whether this small private college provides the lab facilities, research opportunities, and industry connections that matter in chemistry careers, especially when larger state schools with verified outcomes exist nearby.

Without actual graduate data, you're making a choice based on faith in the college's chemistry program rather than evidence. If Central Christian offers something specific your child needs—smaller classes, a particular campus culture, faith integration—the financial picture isn't alarming. But if chemistry outcomes are the priority, programs with transparent, reported data give you more certainty about what you're buying.

Where Central Christian College of Kansas Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Central Christian College of KansasMcPherson$21,000$42,581*—$24,994*—
Fort Hays State UniversityHays$5,633$44,261*$42,980$31,000*0.70
Wichita State UniversityWichita$9,322$43,740*$41,713$26,000*0.59
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 Central Christian College of Kansas, approximately 43% 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 national median of 205 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.