Location: Ashland, WI•In-State Tuition: $42,491•Admission Rate: 72%•Avg SAT: 1153
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$48,895
Est. from WI median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,994
Est. from national median (56 programs)

Analysis

Wisconsin chemistry programs typically produce first-year earnings around $49,000, and based on comparable programs, Northland's graduates likely fall right in that range. With an estimated $25,000 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold—meaning graduates could reasonably pay off their loans on a science career salary.

What makes this estimate more reliable is how consistent chemistry outcomes are across Wisconsin schools. Whether graduates attend UW-Madison or smaller programs like Carthage, first-year earnings cluster tightly in the $45,000-$51,000 range. Chemistry skills translate fairly predictably into lab technician, quality control, and entry-level pharmaceutical positions that pay similar wages regardless of which Wisconsin campus issued the degree. The estimated debt also aligns closely with what Wisconsin chemistry students typically borrow.

The real question is whether your child wants to work in chemistry long-term. These first-year numbers are solid for a science bachelor's degree, but many chemistry graduates eventually pursue additional credentials for advancement. If your student plans to stop at a bachelor's and enter the workforce, this debt load appears manageable. If graduate school is likely, factor in that additional borrowing when evaluating total educational investment.

Where Northland College Stands

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

Northland College (estimated ±10%)Other chemistry programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Northland CollegeAshland$42,491$48,895*—$24,994*—
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire$9,277$50,659*$54,532$23,250*0.46
University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville$8,315$49,386*—$26,000*0.53
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater$8,250$48,903*$54,746$25,250*0.52
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison$11,205$48,886*$62,892$26,043*0.53
Carthage CollegeKenosha$36,500$45,188*—$27,000*0.60
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 Northland College, approximately 32% 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 median of 6 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.