Chemistry at University of Denver

A chemistry degree from the University of Denver carries an estimated $25,000 in debt—slightly above the national median for this field—while comparable programs across Colorado suggest first-year earnings around $38,500. That earnings figure tracks exactly with the state median for chemistry bachelor's degrees, but it sits meaningfully below what graduates from Colorado State ($42,660) and University of Northern Colorado ($45,400) are earning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 is manageable, though not exceptional, meaning graduates would likely spend about eight months of gross income repaying their loans.

What complicates the picture is that both the earnings and debt figures here are estimates drawn from peer programs rather than actual outcomes for DU chemistry graduates specifically. Given the university's selective profile—average SAT of 1344 and only 15% of students on Pell grants—there's reason to think outcomes could skew higher than the state average. However, the fact that other Colorado programs with actual reported data show a $7,000-$11,000 earnings advantage over the state median suggests DU's chemistry program may not be maximizing its institutional strengths in this particular field.

If your child is set on chemistry at a private university with DU's academic profile, the estimated debt load won't be crushing. But you should directly ask the department about actual placement outcomes and whether graduates are landing the higher-paying positions that would justify choosing DU over Colorado's stronger-performing public programs.