Chemistry at The University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA's chemistry program starts graduates below both state and national benchmarks at $40,700, landing in the 40th percentile among Texas programs—notably behind UT Austin ($43,383) and substantially below Houston ($50,717) and Texas A&M ($49,462). However, earnings climb 27% by year four to nearly $52,000, which actually surpasses many of those higher-starting programs. The modest debt load of $20,835 means graduates face a manageable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio, better than the national median.

The critical caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in this data. That makes these numbers less reliable predictors of individual outcomes. Still, the pattern suggests UTSA chemistry graduates may experience a slower launch but catch up within a few years, possibly reflecting the time needed to move from lab technician roles into better-paying positions. For families focused on affordability and who can weather a modest starting salary, this represents a workable path into chemistry careers, especially compared to pricier alternatives. But if your student is competitive for admission at UT Austin or Texas A&M, those programs offer stronger initial earnings with similar debt levels.