Chemistry at University of Maryland-College Park

A flagship university chemistry degree earning $46,140 sounds reasonable until you realize Maryland chemistry grads typically make closer to $48,000—and nearby Towson and Salisbury students are clearing $50,000+. With a small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers might not tell the full story, but UMD chemistry ranks only at the 40th percentile among Maryland programs despite the university's strong reputation and selectivity.

The debt picture is more favorable: $21,238 matches the state median and sits well below the national average of $24,000. That 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are borrowing less than half their first-year salary, which is manageable territory. Nationally, this program performs decently—77th percentile for earnings—suggesting the real question is why it underperforms compared to other Maryland options rather than whether it meets minimum viability standards.

Given UMD's 1463 average SAT and 45% admission rate, parents might reasonably expect this program to lead the state rather than trail behind less selective schools. The small sample size means a few graduates in unusual circumstances could be dragging down the average, but it also means you can't count on these numbers improving with a larger cohort. If your student is committed to chemistry and UMD specifically, the debt load won't be crushing—but they might graduate with better earnings prospects from Towson or Salisbury at lower cost.