Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,779
Est. from OR median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$22,750
Est. from OR median (3 programs)

Analysis

A Bachelor's in Chemistry from George Fox carries an estimated $22,750 in debt—roughly in line with other Oregon chemistry programs—but the financial picture depends heavily on what graduates do with the degree. Based on comparable programs in Oregon, first-year earnings around $42,000 suggest this credential performs near the state median, putting debt at about half of first year income. That's a manageable starting point, though chemistry degrees often serve as springboards to graduate school or professional programs rather than endpoints themselves.

The challenge is that we're working with limited visibility here. George Fox's small chemistry cohort means actual outcomes aren't publicly reported, so these estimates come from just three peer programs in Oregon. What we do know: the degree holds its value against the national chemistry median ($42,581), and the estimated debt load is slightly below the national benchmark. For students planning to work immediately after graduation in lab roles or quality control, these earnings may feel modest given the technical rigor of the major. For those heading to medical school, pharmacy programs, or graduate research, the relatively contained debt becomes more strategic.

The bottom line: if your student is certain about chemistry and has a clear plan for what comes after—whether that's industry work, teaching, or advanced degrees—the estimated financial profile suggests a reasonable foundation. But with George Fox's 96% admission rate and limited outcome data, you'll want to verify that the program offers the research opportunities, industry connections, or pre-professional advising that will make that degree translate into the next step.

Where George Fox University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Oregon

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Oregon (14 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
George Fox UniversityNewberg$40,940$41,779*—$22,750*—
Oregon State UniversityCorvallis$13,494$41,779*$56,658$25,500*0.61
Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend$12,594$41,779*$56,658$25,500*0.61
Portland State UniversityPortland$11,238$35,395*$54,740$24,773*0.70
National Median—$42,581*—$24,000*0.56
* Estimated from similar programs

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 George Fox University, approximately 27% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in OR. Actual outcomes may vary.