Chemistry at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock's chemistry program shows first-year earnings of $36,597—roughly $7,000 below Pennsylvania's median for chemistry graduates and in the bottom quarter nationally. While the debt load is actually quite low (5th percentile nationally means 95% of programs saddle students with more), the 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio is acceptable but not impressive when graduates are earning 14% below the state average. For context, Pennsylvania chemistry students typically earn $43,571 their first year out, with top programs like Millersville and Drexel seeing graduates start near $50,000.

The concerning part isn't the debt—it's the opportunity cost. Chemistry is typically a strong-earning STEM field, but this program delivers bottom-quartile outcomes both statewide and nationally. That $7,000 annual gap compared to the state median adds up quickly, and these numbers suggest graduates may be limited to lower-paying lab technician roles rather than more competitive positions in pharmaceuticals or research.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly year to year, but even accounting for statistical noise, it's hard to ignore that this program trails the state median by 16%. If your child is set on chemistry and Slippery Rock for other reasons, it's a manageable financial risk given the low debt. But if they have options at Penn State, Pitt, or even Millersville, those programs show measurably stronger earning trajectories.