Chemistry at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State's chemistry program shows promising long-term earnings despite modest starting salaries. First-year graduates earn $42,660—essentially matching the national median but outperforming the typical Colorado chemistry grad by about $4,000. More importantly, earnings jump 54% by year four to $65,800, suggesting graduates either advance quickly in their careers or transition into higher-paying roles after gaining experience. Among Colorado's 16 chemistry programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only University of Northern Colorado among major state institutions.

The debt picture is manageable: at $19,062, graduates owe about 20% less than the typical chemistry major nationally and considerably less than the Colorado state median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly 5-6 months of gross salary—a comfortable margin that becomes even more favorable as earnings increase.

The main caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates reported data, so your child's experience could vary. That said, the trajectory is clear: this program positions graduates for solid mid-career earnings without burdening them with excessive debt, making it a reasonable choice for students committed to chemistry.