Chemistry at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

UNC Pembroke's chemistry program lands near the middle of North Carolina's offerings—better than the state median but trailing the flagship and research universities by a noticeable margin. At $35,579 initially and $44,784 after four years, graduates earn roughly $2,000 less than the typical NC chemistry grad in year four. The debt load of $25,766 is manageable relative to starting salary, though it's higher than the state average. The 26% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates find their footing, but they're starting from a lower baseline than peers at larger institutions.

The real question is what that $10,000 gap compared to NC State or ECU means over a career. For families prioritizing affordability—nearly half of students here receive Pell grants—the difference in starting position might be worth it if total college costs are significantly lower. The program serves its access mission, but it's not competing on salary outcomes with the state's research universities.

However, treat these numbers cautiously: the sample size is small, meaning outcomes for your specific student could vary widely. If graduate school is the plan, where you get your bachelor's matters less. For students heading straight to work in chemistry, understand you're likely looking at lab technician or quality control roles rather than research positions—at least initially—and the salary data reflects that reality.