Chemistry at Central Washington University

A debt load of $24,607 for a bachelor's in chemistry positions Central Washington graduates reasonably well, though the earnings picture relies entirely on estimation. Since this program's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, we're working with estimates derived from five other chemistry programs across Washington state. Those peer programs suggest first-year earnings around $46,369—notably above the national median of $42,581 for chemistry degrees. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 means graduates would dedicate about half their first year's salary to loan repayment, which is manageable compared to many science programs.

The four-year earnings figure of $49,468 does raise questions about salary progression, since that represents only modest growth from the estimated starting point. However, comparing CWU to reported outcomes from other Washington schools shows it falls in the middle of the pack—similar to what University of Washington campuses report, though below Western Washington's stronger $48,527. For a school with a 90% admission rate serving a significant population of Pell-eligible students, these comparable-program outcomes suggest decent value.

The core challenge is uncertainty: without actual graduate data, you're betting that CWU's chemistry program produces outcomes similar to its state peers. If your student is considering this program, the estimated debt burden appears reasonable, but understand you're making this decision with borrowed data rather than track record.