Chemistry at Georgetown University

A chemistry bachelor's from one of the nation's most selective universities might seem like a sure bet, but the estimated first-year earnings of $42,600 give pause. That figure, drawn from comparable chemistry programs nationally, places Georgetown's graduates right at the national median—unremarkable for a school with a 13% admission rate and average SAT scores approaching 1500. The estimated $25,000 debt load, while manageable at a 0.59 ratio to earnings, doesn't offset the opportunity cost of attending such a competitive institution if career outcomes mirror those of far less selective schools.

The chemistry major often serves as pre-med preparation, which could explain modest initial earnings if many graduates pursue advanced degrees rather than immediate employment. But without Georgetown-specific data, you're essentially betting on the university's prestigious network and research opportunities to differentiate your child's outcome from the typical chemistry graduate elsewhere. DC's higher debt median of $27,000 for chemistry programs suggests Georgetown may actually be protecting students from worse borrowing, though this offers cold comfort when peer outcomes remain unclear.

If your child is chemistry-focused and Georgetown-bound, treat this as an investment in the institutional brand and connections rather than the major itself. The suppressed data here means you're flying blind on this program's actual track record—a risk that matters less if graduate school is the plan, but deserves serious scrutiny if immediate employment and earnings are the goal.