Location: Cleveland, OH•In-State Tuition: $12,613•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,973•Admission Rate: 95%•Avg SAT: 980
Median Earnings (1yr)
$48,147
86th percentile
60th percentile in Ohio
Median Debt
$24,744
3% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.51 ManageableSample: 24 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Cleveland State's chemistry program posts impressive earnings that beat 86% of chemistry programs nationwide, but that "small sample" warning deserves attention here. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points. That said, the trajectory looks solid: graduates start at $48,147 and climb to $55,195 within four years—a 15% bump that suggests real career progression.

The debt picture is reasonable at $24,744, translating to a manageable 0.51 ratio against first-year earnings. Within Ohio, this program sits comfortably in the 60th percentile, outearning chemistry grads from most state schools except Cincinnati and Akron. For context, Cleveland State's highly accessible admission profile (95% acceptance rate) combined with 39% Pell enrollment means many students here are seeking affordable paths to STEM careers, and the earnings data suggests they're finding them.

The catch: small cohorts mean less stable data and potentially fewer on-campus recruiting connections or lab resources than larger programs. If your student thrives in smaller settings and wants to stay in Northeast Ohio, these outcomes justify the investment. Just verify that recent cohorts match this pattern before committing—ask the department directly about placement rates and typical employers for their graduates.

Where Cleveland State University Stands

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

Cleveland State UniversityOther chemistry programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Cleveland State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Cleveland State University earns $48k — 86th percentile among chemistry bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Cleveland State University$48,147$55,195+15%
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$47,387$62,319+32%
Kent State University at Kent$39,790$59,546+50%
Ohio University-Eastern Campus$43,349$55,606+28%
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus$43,349$55,606+28%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (53 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Cleveland State UniversityCleveland$12,613$48,147$55,195$24,7440.51
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$47,387$62,319$23,7500.50
University of Akron Main CampusAkron$12,799$44,970—$27,5000.61
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green$14,081$43,840$55,512$26,0000.59
Ohio University-Eastern CampusSaint Clairsville$6,178$43,349$55,606$25,7510.59
Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusChillicothe$6,178$43,349$55,606$25,7510.59
National Median—$42,581—$24,0000.56

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 Cleveland State University, approximately 39% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 24 graduates with reported earnings and 33 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.