Chemistry at Montclair State University

Montclair State's chemistry program punches well above its weight, with graduates earning $55,389 their first year—nearly $10,000 more than the state median and $13,000 above the national benchmark. That 95th percentile national ranking is impressive for a university with an 87% admission rate, suggesting strong industry connections or effective career placement in New Jersey's pharmaceutical corridor. The program also edges out Rowan, the state's other standout, by about $2,000.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $23,600 (exactly matching the state median), creating a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio that gives graduates solid financial footing. However, there's an important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. The small cohort size might actually be a feature rather than a bug—perhaps indicating more personalized attention or selective advising into the major.

For families concerned about college ROI, this program delivers measurably stronger outcomes than most New Jersey chemistry programs at a fraction of the price of private alternatives. Just understand that with such a small sample, your student's experience could differ considerably from these numbers. If they're genuinely interested in chemistry and planning to work in the region, Montclair offers a compelling value proposition.