Location: Saint Peter, MN•In-State Tuition: $54,310•Admission Rate: 62%•Avg SAT: 1320
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$46,063
Est. from MN median (4 programs)
Median Debt
$26,901
12% above national median

Analysis

Chemistry programs in Minnesota typically place graduates near $46,000 in first-year earnings, and Gustavus Adolphus appears positioned right in that range. What distinguishes this program isn't the starting salary—it's the debt picture. At $26,901, students here graduate with slightly more debt than the state median but still land in the 7th percentile nationally for student debt burden. That's exceptionally low for a private liberal arts college.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates would spend roughly seven months of their first year's salary to pay off their loans—a manageable proposition by most standards. For context, nearby Hamline University's chemistry graduates earn about $4,000 more annually, but if they're also carrying similar private college debt loads, that advantage may not be decisive. The University of Minnesota system offers comparable outcomes with potentially lower debt for in-state students, though that comparison depends entirely on individual financial aid packages.

The real question is whether you're paying significantly more than $27,000 in total debt for this degree. Based on peer programs, the earnings trajectory looks solid enough to justify this debt level, but private college costs can quickly change that calculation. If financial aid keeps total borrowing near or below this amount, you're looking at a reasonable investment in a STEM credential from a selective institution.

Where Gustavus Adolphus College Stands

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

Gustavus Adolphus College (estimated ±10%)Other chemistry programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (26 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter$54,310$46,063*—$26,901—
Hamline UniversitySaint Paul$48,311$50,007*———
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$47,451*$64,031$21,1580.45
University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth$14,318$44,674*$66,981$22,5000.50
St Olaf CollegeNorthfield$56,970$44,020*$57,761$24,9880.57
National Median—$42,581*—$24,0000.56
* 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 Gustavus Adolphus College, approximately 21% 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 4 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.