Chemistry at College of Charleston

The earnings trajectory here should make any parent pause before signing loan papers. College of Charleston chemistry graduates see their income *fall* 16% between year one and year four—from $39,208 to just under $33,000. That backward slide is particularly worrying given that the median debt load of $27,000 means monthly payments that could easily consume 15% of take-home pay during those lean middle years.

The relative performance tells a split story. While this program sits in the 60th percentile among South Carolina chemistry programs (slightly better than USC-Columbia's outcomes), it falls to just the 35th percentile nationally, earning about $3,000 less than the typical chemistry bachelor's holder nationwide. The positive spin: debt levels are exceptionally low compared to similar programs—in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of chemistry programs saddle graduates with more debt.

Here's the critical caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, making them statistically shaky. A few outliers heading to grad school or taking gap years could skew everything. If your child is set on chemistry and loves Charleston, this might work—but only with a clear plan for graduate school or career pivoting that explains why earnings would decline rather than grow in those crucial early years. The low debt helps, but it doesn't fully compensate for the income concerns.