Chemistry at Huntington University

A debt load near $25,000 for a chemistry degree isn't alarming on its face—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 suggests manageable repayment if those first-year earnings of $42,580 hold true. But here's the challenge: both figures come from peer programs rather than Huntington's actual graduates, and the small sample size that triggered data suppression raises questions about how many chemistry students this program produces each year. Indiana's chemistry programs cluster tightly around the $42,000-$43,000 mark, with even Purdue's graduates starting around $47,000, so the state appears to produce similar outcomes across institutions—but that assumes Huntington follows the pattern.

The practical concern is whether a smaller program can deliver the lab facilities, industry connections, and placement support that chemistry careers typically require. Chemistry bachelor's degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate school or professional programs, where additional debt compounds. If your child plans to stop at the bachelor's level and enter industry directly, peer program data suggests this is viable. But if medical school, pharmacy, or a chemistry PhD is the goal, starting with $25,000 in debt—before adding graduate program costs—deserves serious consideration.

Without actual outcomes for Huntington's chemistry graduates, you're betting that this program matches the state average despite limited data. Ask the department directly about recent graduate placements and whether the small cohort size affects research opportunities or faculty accessibility before committing.