Chemistry at University of Notre Dame

Chemistry graduates from Notre Dame's highly selective program face an estimated debt burden of nearly $25,000—higher than most Indiana chemistry programs—for starting salaries that peer programs in the state suggest will land around $43,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 means roughly six months of gross income goes toward debt, which is manageable but hardly exceptional given Notre Dame's elite reputation and 12% acceptance rate.

The estimated earnings mirror exactly what Indiana's median chemistry graduate makes, placing Notre Dame in the middle of the pack alongside IU-Bloomington and Ball State rather than at a premium. Purdue chemistry graduates, for comparison, start about $4,600 higher. For families paying full freight at Notre Dame, this suggests the value proposition rests more on the school's broader network and prestige than on chemistry-specific career advantages within Indiana's job market.

The uncertainty here matters: with suppressed data, we don't know if Notre Dame's chemistry program sends most graduates to medical school (where first-year earnings understate long-term value) or directly into industry. If your child plans graduate work in medicine or research, the debt is modest enough to remain workable. But if they're targeting immediate employment in chemistry, comparable Indiana programs cost less and may offer similar or better placement—check where recent Notre Dame chemistry graduates actually land before assuming the brand alone justifies the premium.