Chemistry at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver's chemistry program sits right in the middle of Colorado's competitive landscape—not the strongest performer, but far from the weakest. At $34,417 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $8,000 less than peers at CSU-Fort Collins and $11,000 below University of Northern Colorado, though they're slightly ahead of Fort Lewis College. Among Colorado's 16 chemistry programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile.

The program's real weakness shows up in national comparisons, landing in just the 18th percentile. That's concerning for parents whose children might consider graduate school or relocating for work—chemistry is a national market, and these graduates start $8,000 behind the typical chemistry bachelor's. The debt load of $29,318 is actually higher than both state and national medians, which compounds the challenge. However, the strong 58% earnings growth to $54,367 by year four suggests graduates who stay in Denver's biotech and pharmaceutical sectors can catch up over time.

For a family choosing between Metro State's low tuition (thanks to that 99% admission rate) and pricier alternatives, this becomes a math problem. If your student is debt-averse and plans to work in Colorado, the slightly below-average outcomes might be acceptable given the lower cost of attendance. But for graduate school preparation or national job market competitiveness, the numbers suggest looking at CSU-Fort Collins or UNC instead.