Chemistry at Indiana University-Bloomington

IU-Bloomington's chemistry degree comes with a significant advantage that Indiana families shouldn't overlook: at $17,000 in median debt, graduates owe about $6,000 less than the typical Indiana chemistry major and $7,000 less than the national average. That's a meaningful cushion when you're starting at $42,889, and it gets more valuable as earnings climb to $59,000 by year four—a 38% jump that outpaces inflation.

The program performs right in the middle of the pack nationally but ranks in the 60th percentile among Indiana schools, placing it solidly above the state median. While Purdue leads the state by about $5,000 in early earnings, IU-Bloomington's lower debt burden narrows that gap considerably. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means graduates owe less than half their first year's salary, a manageable starting point that should allow for comfortable repayment even if students pursue graduate school or lower-paying research positions initially.

One important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. Even so, the combination of below-average debt and solid mid-career earnings growth makes this a reasonable bet for students interested in chemistry, especially those planning to stay in Indiana where the program's reputation holds steady value.