Chemistry at Seattle Pacific University

Is a chemistry degree from a selective private university worth $25,000 in estimated debt? For Seattle Pacific, the answer hinges on numbers drawn from peer programs rather than this specific cohort. Based on Washington's median for chemistry bachelor's programs, graduates typically earn around $46,400 in their first year—putting estimated debt at just over half of first-year income. That's a manageable ratio by national standards, where chemistry grads carry a median of $24,000 in debt against lower median earnings of $42,600.

What matters here is context. Chemistry programs across Washington state show considerable variation, with Western Washington graduates earning $48,500 and Whitworth graduates starting at $33,200. Seattle Pacific's estimated outcomes land squarely in the middle of this range, suggesting neither exceptional advantage nor particular disadvantage compared to state peers. The 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio, while estimated, indicates that loan repayment shouldn't dominate a graduate's budget in those crucial early career years.

The practical takeaway: if your student is set on chemistry and values SPU's environment, these peer-program estimates suggest the financial fundamentals are sound. Just remember that individual outcomes depend heavily on what students do with the degree—graduate school, industry jobs, and teaching positions all pay differently—and these estimates reflect an average across varied career paths.