Chemistry at Drexel University

Drexel's chemistry graduates start strong, earning $49,215 in their first year—well above the national median of $42,581 and competitive with Pennsylvania's top programs like Millersville. With debt of just $29,667, this program delivers one of the best debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find in chemistry, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability. Within Pennsylvania, where median debt for chemistry majors runs $27,000, Drexel's slightly higher borrowing is more than offset by the earnings premium.

The catch: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they may not tell the whole story. Chemistry programs can vary significantly in focus—some emphasize research preparation, others industrial applications—and a small cohort makes it hard to know if these outcomes are consistent year to year. That said, Drexel's cooperative education model, which integrates paid work experience into the degree, likely contributes to these strong starting salaries.

For an anxious parent, this looks like solid value if your student is confident about chemistry as a career path. The debt burden is manageable at roughly 60% of first-year earnings, and graduates appear to enter the job market on strong footing. Just keep in mind that the small sample size means less certainty than you'd have with a larger program—you're working with a promising snapshot rather than a comprehensive picture.