Chemistry at Our Lady of the Lake University

Chemistry graduates from Our Lady of the Lake face a debt-to-earnings equation that looks manageable on paper—an estimated 0.60 ratio is well below the danger zone—but the limited data here tells its own story. When the Department of Education suppresses outcomes because too few students complete and respond, it's worth asking why this program isn't producing a larger, trackable graduate cohort.

Based on similar chemistry programs statewide, first-year earnings around $42,000 align with Texas medians but fall significantly short of what students at Houston ($51,000), Texas A&M ($49,000), or UT Dallas ($49,000) typically earn. That $8,000-$10,000 gap compounds over a career and represents real money—a 20% earnings disadvantage isn't trivial when you're carrying $25,000 in debt. The estimated debt load itself tracks close to national norms, though slightly above the Texas median of $22,000.

For a school serving 57% Pell-eligible students, these estimated outcomes suggest graduates will manage their debt but won't enjoy the financial cushion that chemistry degrees often promise. If your student is considering this program, the essential questions are practical: Can they access research opportunities and internships that stronger programs provide automatically? Will graduate schools or employers view this degree the same way they view one from a flagship university? The suppressed data means you're taking a chance on a program without clear evidence of success.