Chemistry at Rockford University

Chemistry degrees typically deliver solid ROI, but when both earnings and debt are estimates—drawn from just four Illinois programs and national data, respectively—it's harder to know where Rockford University actually lands. The estimated $44,860 first-year salary sits right at the state median, suggesting chemistry graduates in Illinois generally start in the mid-$40s. That's respectable for a bachelor's degree, and the estimated debt load of about $25,000 yields a manageable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio.

What makes this harder to assess is the lack of actual outcomes data from Rockford's own graduates. Illinois chemistry programs span a wide range—from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign grads earning $47,000 to Western Illinois at $32,000—and without knowing where Rockford's chemistry program actually performs, you're making assumptions based on peer institutions. The school's 57% admission rate and below-average SAT scores suggest it's more accessible than UIUC, but that doesn't necessarily predict graduate outcomes in a technical field like chemistry.

If your child is serious about chemistry and the estimated debt is accurate, this could work—the field generally pays enough to service that level of borrowing. But given the data gaps, you'll want direct information from Rockford about placement rates, graduate school admissions, and where recent chemistry grads actually landed jobs. The estimates suggest reasonable value, but they can't replace concrete outcomes for this specific program.