Chemistry at Friends University

Chemistry degrees in Kansas typically produce stronger first-year earnings than what similar programs nationally suggest for Friends University graduates—the state median sits at $44,000, noticeably above the estimated $42,581 here. Fort Hays State and Wichita State, with actual reported outcomes, place their chemistry graduates around $43,700-44,300, suggesting Friends may be underperforming compared to public alternatives in the same state. That $1,400-1,700 earnings gap might seem modest, but it compounds over a career.

The estimated debt load of roughly $25,000 aligns closely with both state and national norms for chemistry programs, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio just under 0.6—manageable but not impressive. What matters here is whether this private university experience justifies similar debt for potentially lower earnings than Kansas's public institutions deliver. The 56% admission rate and below-average SAT scores suggest Friends serves a different student population than flagship programs, which may explain the earnings differential but doesn't necessarily make it a better value.

Given that both the earnings and debt figures here are estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than Friends' actual graduate outcomes, you're making a decision with significant uncertainty. If your student is choosing between Friends and a Kansas public university with proven chemistry outcomes, the public option appears to offer comparable debt with demonstrably higher earnings.