Chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University's chemistry program shows relatively modest debt ($23,000) but lands in the 40th percentile among Washington chemistry programs—meaning 60% of comparable in-state options produce higher-earning graduates. While the $44,555 starting salary beats the national median by about $2,000, it falls short of Washington's state median of $46,369. For context, Western Washington University chemistry grads start at $48,527, nearly $4,000 more annually, suggesting there may be stronger regional options worth exploring.

The debt burden itself isn't alarming—you're looking at manageable monthly payments on $23,000—but the complete picture depends heavily on outcomes beyond first-year earnings. Chemistry majors often pursue graduate school or need time to break into better-paying lab positions, so that initial $44,555 may not tell the whole story. The program's small sample size (under 30 graduates) also means these figures could swing considerably year to year.

If your child is committed to PLU for fit or community reasons, this chemistry program won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if you're comparing purely on financial outcomes within Washington, the data suggests looking closely at what UW or Western Washington offer, especially if tuition costs are comparable after aid.