Chemistry at John Carroll University

A chemistry degree from John Carroll University shows first-year earnings of just $30,087—roughly $13,000 below Ohio's median and nearly 30% below the national benchmark. Among Ohio's 53 chemistry programs, this ranks in the bottom 10th percentile, trailing not just flagship universities but also mid-tier regional schools like Akron and Bowling Green by $14,000 or more annually. That's a troubling gap for a private university charging prices that typically generate $27,000 in student debt.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the pattern is stark enough to warrant serious questions. At a 0.90 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates are starting with debt nearly equal to their entire first-year salary—a burden that should ease as chemistry careers typically advance, but one that creates real financial stress in those critical early years. Chemistry graduates typically command solid middle-class salaries, yet John Carroll's outcomes suggest graduates may be struggling to land the lab positions, quality control roles, or graduate school placements that drive earnings in this field.

For the price of a private education, your student could attend Cleveland State or Cincinnati and likely earn 50% more right out of the gate. Unless there's a compelling personal reason to choose John Carroll—specific research opportunities, graduate school placement data you've verified independently—the financial fundamentals argue strongly for looking elsewhere.