Chemistry at Goshen College

Peer chemistry programs in Indiana suggest first-year earnings around $42,600—right at both the state and national median—but what matters more is how that translates into financial stress. With estimated debt of roughly $25,000, this works out to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, meaning graduates would owe about seven months of their first year's salary. That's a reasonable burden for a science degree, though it's worth noting the debt estimate sits slightly above Indiana's median for chemistry programs.

The earnings picture itself offers limited room for optimism. Indiana's chemistry graduates cluster tightly around $42,000-$43,000 regardless of which state school they attend, with only Purdue breaking meaningfully above $47,000. Similar programs nationwide show the same pattern—even top performers rarely push past $46,000 in year one. Chemistry bachelor's holders often need graduate school or several years of laboratory experience before salaries rise substantially, so that initial $42,600 may represent a long plateau rather than a launching point.

For families banking on chemistry as a high-earning STEM path, these estimates should recalibrate expectations. The debt load appears sustainable, but the early salary won't deliver the financial breathing room some science degrees provide. If your student plans to stop at the bachelor's level and work immediately, understand they're looking at solid but modest middle-class earnings—not the premium typically associated with harder sciences.