Chemistry at Southern Methodist University

A chemistry degree from SMU comes with a concerning tradeoff: you'll pay selective-school tuition while earning below-average graduate salaries. First-year earnings of $38,919 fall below both the Texas median ($41,798) and the national benchmark ($42,581), placing this program in just the 40th percentile statewide. That means six out of ten chemistry programs in Texas deliver better initial earnings, including public universities like University of Houston ($50,717) and Texas A&M ($49,462) that cost substantially less.

The $23,250 in median debt is manageable at 60% of first-year earnings, but it doesn't offset the earnings gap. SMU's 12% Pell grant rate suggests most students come from families who can absorb higher costs, which matters when comparable programs at UT Austin and Texas A&M offer better career starts at lower prices. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—perhaps a handful of graduates pursuing additional education before career employment skewed these numbers downward.

For families paying premium tuition, this program doesn't deliver premium outcomes. If your child has SMU-caliber credentials (1424 SAT average), they'd likely gain admission to higher-performing Texas public universities where chemistry graduates earn $5,000-$12,000 more annually. Unless SMU's campus environment or network offers compelling personal fit advantages, the data suggests looking at Texas's stronger chemistry programs first.