Location: Pocatello, ID•In-State Tuition: $8,356•Out-of-State Tuition: $27,466
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,581
Est. from national median (205 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$23,675
Est. from national median (196 programs)

Analysis

A chemistry bachelor's degree typically carries significant debt for modest initial returns, and Idaho State appears to follow this pattern. Based on national benchmarks for similar programs, graduates here likely face around $23,675 in debt against first-year earnings near $42,600. That 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold—but the initial salary itself deserves attention. Chemistry graduates at the University of Idaho, Idaho's only program with reported outcomes, earn $38,664, suggesting the statewide market for bachelor's-level chemists starts below the national median.

The real question is trajectory. Chemistry degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs in medicine, pharmacy, or research, where earnings eventually justify the investment. But if your child plans to enter the workforce immediately with just a bachelor's, those first-year figures paint a sobering picture of what to expect. The debt is reasonable enough to manage on that salary, but there won't be much financial cushion early on.

For families weighing this program, understand you're looking at estimates rather than Idaho State's actual track record, since their graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report specific outcomes. If your child is serious about chemistry as a career foundation—whether for grad school or industry—this could work. If they're uncertain about the field or hoping for strong early earnings, those comparable program outcomes suggest tempering expectations.

Where Idaho State University Stands

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

Idaho State University (estimated ±10%)Other chemistry programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Idaho

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Idaho (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Idaho State UniversityPocatello$8,356$42,581*—$23,675*—
University of IdahoMoscow$8,816$38,664*—$24,508*0.63
National Median—$42,581*—$24,000*0.56
* 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 Idaho State University, approximately 27% 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 national median of 205 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.