Chemistry at Saint Mary's College

Saint Mary's chemistry graduates face a debt burden slightly above both state and national medians for chemistry programs, paired with first-year earnings that sit right at Indiana's typical level. Based on comparable programs in Indiana, chemistry majors can expect around $42,580 in their first year—earnings that match the six-program state median exactly but trail flagship options like Purdue by roughly $4,600. The estimated $25,000 in debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, meaning you'd owe about seven months of gross income, which is manageable but not exceptional.

What complicates the picture is Saint Mary's 81% admission rate combined with these middle-of-the-pack outcomes. Chemistry is typically a strong-earning STEM field that can justify moderate debt loads, and the ratio here suggests graduates should be able to manage repayment. However, with limited actual data from this specific program, you're placing faith in the school's ability to match outcomes seen at peer institutions across Indiana. The chemistry program landscape in the state is competitive, with public universities offering similar or better estimated returns.

For families weighing this investment, the question becomes whether Saint Mary's distinctive environment—a women's college with smaller classes and different support systems—justifies paying similar debt loads for earnings that comparable Indiana programs also deliver. The numbers suggest adequacy rather than advantage.