Chemistry at Point Loma Nazarene University

Is a bachelor's in chemistry worth $25,000 in debt? For Point Loma Nazarene, the estimated figures suggest a manageable starting position. Based on comparable chemistry programs in California, graduates likely earn around $43,800 in their first year—tracking almost exactly with the state median and slightly above the national benchmark. With estimated debt of roughly $25,000, that puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.57, meaning borrowers would owe about seven months of their first-year salary.

What's harder to gauge is Point Loma's competitive positioning. Top chemistry programs in California—UC Berkeley, Cal State Long Beach, UC Merced—report first-year earnings between $47,000 and $60,000, suggesting that chemistry graduates from more research-intensive schools may command higher starting salaries. Point Loma's private school tuition structure could explain the higher estimated debt compared to California's state median of $16,300, though the debt load remains reasonable for a chemistry degree that typically opens doors to lab work, research positions, or graduate programs.

The practical question: can your child handle the estimated $280 monthly loan payment on a $44,000 salary while pursuing career advancement? Chemistry careers often require graduate degrees for significant earnings growth, so maintaining modest undergraduate debt matters. Without this specific program's actual outcomes, you'll want to ask the school directly about graduate school placement rates and whether their chemistry graduates typically move into industry or continue their education.