Chemistry at Purdue University-Main Campus

Purdue's chemistry program commands the highest starting salaries in Indiana, outpacing even IU-Bloomington by over $4,000 annually—and it does so while keeping debt 15% below the state median. Though the program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, that ranking is deceptive: Indiana's chemistry programs cluster tightly around $42,500-$43,000 in first-year earnings, making Purdue's $47,213 starting salary a genuine standout. Nationally, this places graduates in the 82nd percentile, and the 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio means students can expect to earn more than twice their debt load in their first year.

The earnings trajectory is admittedly flat, growing just 3% between years one and four. But that plateau matters less when you're starting from a strong position—$48,715 four years out still beats what most Indiana chemistry programs deliver at any point. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests stable outcomes without the volatility that tiny cohorts can introduce.

For an in-state student, this represents clear value: you're getting top-tier Indiana earnings at Indiana pricing. Out-of-state students should weigh the tuition premium more carefully, but the combination of Purdue's reputation in STEM fields and these concrete salary outcomes makes a compelling case that the chemistry program delivers more than its mid-pack state ranking would suggest.