Chemistry at Southern Adventist University

A debt load of roughly $25,000 for a chemistry bachelor's degree creates a manageable financial foundation, particularly when earnings estimates from comparable Tennessee programs suggest first-year income around $41,600. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 means graduates would owe about 7 months of their annual salary—well within the prudent range for STEM fields where career trajectories typically strengthen after initial placement.

What's encouraging here is that similar chemistry programs across Tennessee cluster tightly in the low-$40,000s for starting pay, from UT-Knoxville to UT-Chattanooga, suggesting the field has consistent entry-level compensation regardless of institution. The estimated debt also tracks closely with the $24,000 national median for chemistry bachelor's programs. For context, Tennessee's median debt for chemistry programs sits at $20,100, so Southern Adventist appears positioned near typical borrowing levels for the state while the earnings align with both state and national benchmarks.

The practical reality: assuming these peer-program estimates hold, a graduate earning $41,600 with $25,000 in debt could reasonably manage loan payments while building toward the higher salaries chemistry careers typically offer with experience. The uncertainty lies in whether Southern Adventist's specific outcomes match these state-wide patterns, but the fundamentals—modest debt for a science degree with reliable employment prospects—suggest reasonable value if your child is committed to chemistry as a career path.