Chemistry at Texas A&M University-College Station

Texas A&M's chemistry program lands graduates in strong positions early—$49,462 right out of college—outpacing the national median by $7,000 and placing in the 92nd percentile nationally. The $19,500 debt load is remarkably reasonable for a flagship university, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.39 that lets graduates pay down loans without sacrificing their twenties. Within four years, median earnings jump to $66,584, a 35% increase that reflects chemistry graduates moving into lab management roles, pharmaceutical positions, or graduate programs that boost their trajectory.

The Texas-specific context adds a wrinkle: while A&M crushes national benchmarks, it sits at the 60th percentile within the state. This makes sense given Texas's robust chemical and petrochemical industry—nearly every major university here produces well-employed chemistry graduates. A&M still holds its own against UT Austin and trails only Houston and UT Dallas among major programs, suggesting the Aggie network and College Station's proximity to Houston's energy corridor deliver real advantages.

For a family looking at Texas public universities, A&M represents the sweet spot of accessibility (63% admission rate versus UT Austin's selectivity), manageable debt, and strong industry connections. Chemistry graduates here aren't getting rich immediately, but they're launching careers with solid fundamentals and room to grow.