Chemistry at Hood College

In Maryland, chemistry bachelor's programs show considerable variation in outcomes, with first-year earnings ranging from roughly $44,000 to $53,000 at schools with reported data. Hood College's estimated figures—$48,155 in earnings and $24,994 in debt—place it squarely in the middle of this range, suggesting comparable performance to larger state universities like University of Maryland-College Park.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 means students would owe about half their first year's salary, which is manageable territory for a STEM degree. Similar programs nationally carry median debt of $24,000, so Hood's estimated borrowing levels track with the field. What matters more here is that chemistry degrees typically lead to careers with upward earnings trajectories—lab positions, pharmaceutical companies, and graduate programs that value this foundation. The estimated $48,000 starting point exceeds the national median for chemistry graduates by over $5,000.

Because these figures are drawn from peer programs rather than Hood's actual graduates, there's inherent uncertainty. However, the estimates align with what Maryland chemistry programs typically produce, and Hood serves a meaningful population of Pell-eligible students (36%) who need affordable pathways into science careers. If your child is genuinely interested in chemistry and Hood offers the right academic environment, the estimated financial picture suggests reasonable returns—just understand you're making this decision with less program-specific data than you'd ideally want.