Chemistry at Rockhurst University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 suggests a manageable financial picture for this chemistry degree, assuming the state-level estimates hold true for Rockhurst specifically. With estimated first-year earnings around $40,000 and debt near $25,000, graduates would need roughly 62% of their first year's income to eliminate their loans—not ideal, but workable compared to programs where debt exceeds annual earnings. The challenge is that these figures come from Missouri's chemistry programs broadly, not Rockhurst's actual outcomes, which the DOE couldn't publish due to small graduate cohorts.

The estimated earnings sit right at Missouri's median for chemistry bachelor's degrees but trail the national benchmark by about $2,000. More telling is the comparison with Missouri's flagship programs: Mizzou chemistry graduates reportedly earn around $45,000 in their first year, suggesting Rockhurst may lag somewhat behind the state's top-tier options. Whether that $5,000 gap matters depends on what else Rockhurst offers—smaller class sizes, research opportunities, Kansas City location advantages—that might justify similar debt loads.

The real question is whether you're comfortable making this investment based on proxy data. If your student is committed to chemistry and Rockhurst provides a strong fit otherwise, the estimated financials don't raise red flags. But given the uncertainty, you'd be smart to ask the school directly about recent graduate outcomes and job placement rates before committing to this path.