Chemistry at Oberlin College

Ohio's chemistry bachelor's programs cluster around $43,000 in first-year earnings, which is where peer programs suggest Oberlin graduates land. But what matters here is the $27,000 estimated debt load—roughly $1,200 higher than the state median for chemistry degrees. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 translates to annual loan payments around $300 monthly, or about 8% of gross income. It's manageable, though not exceptional value when several Ohio public universities report actual first-year earnings in the $44,000-$48,000 range with comparable or lower debt.

The caveat: Oberlin's chemistry program is too small for the Department of Education to publish its actual outcomes, so these figures draw from similar programs across Ohio. The estimate may not capture the specific advantages—or challenges—of Oberlin's approach to chemistry education. For a selective liberal arts college (33% admission rate, 1440 average SAT), the projected financial return is modest. Chemistry majors often pursue graduate school or specialized training where undergraduate prestige matters, but if your child plans to enter the workforce directly after their bachelor's, the estimated numbers suggest you'd be paying a premium without clear financial differentiation from larger Ohio institutions with reported outcomes in the mid-to-upper $40,000s.