Location: Ada, OH•In-State Tuition: $37,800•Admission Rate: 73%•Avg SAT: 1290
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$43,349
Est. from OH median (13 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from OH median (4 programs)

Analysis

Ohio Northern's Chemistry program carries an estimated $27,000 in debt—somewhat higher than the typical $24,000 nationally but close to what other Ohio private institutions report. When similar Chemistry programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $43,300, that debt burden translates to just over half a year's salary, a ratio that falls within what many financial advisors consider manageable for STEM degrees.

What's less certain is whether Ohio Northern delivers value competitive with the state's larger universities. Several Ohio public institutions with reported data show Chemistry graduates earning $44,000 to $48,000 in their first year—numbers that likely reflect the stronger employer networks and research infrastructure at these schools. The $27,000 debt estimate assumes similar borrowing patterns to other private colleges in Ohio, but individual outcomes can vary significantly based on financial aid packages and family contribution.

The practical question is whether the smaller class sizes and undergraduate research opportunities at a place like Ohio Northern justify potentially higher costs compared to Ohio State or Cincinnati, where Chemistry graduates have documented earnings in the mid-to-upper $40,000s. Before committing, get a clear financial aid offer and compare the actual net price to what you'd pay at Ohio's public universities—the estimated figures suggest comparable outcomes, but you need real numbers to make this decision confidently.

Where Ohio Northern University Stands

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

Ohio Northern University (estimated ±10%)Other chemistry programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (53 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Ohio Northern UniversityAda$37,800$43,349*—$27,000*—
Cleveland State UniversityCleveland$12,613$48,147*$55,195$24,744*0.51
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$47,387*$62,319$23,750*0.50
University of Akron Main CampusAkron$12,799$44,970*—$27,500*0.61
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green$14,081$43,840*$55,512$26,000*0.59
Ohio University-Eastern CampusSaint Clairsville$6,178$43,349*$55,606$25,751*0.59
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 Ohio Northern University, approximately 19% 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 13 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.