Chemistry at University of Providence

Chemistry degrees typically launch graduates into middle-income careers, but at University of Providence, the numbers based on comparable programs suggest a tight financial picture. The estimated $25,000 debt burden—slightly above the national median for chemistry majors—paired with first-year earnings around $42,600 means graduates would be allocating roughly 59% of a year's salary to their student loans. That's manageable but leaves limited breathing room, especially in Great Falls where cost of living may not match salaries calibrated for larger markets.

The challenge here is Montana's limited chemistry job market. With only seven schools offering this degree statewide and no peer programs reporting actual outcomes, it's unclear whether chemistry graduates stay in Montana or must relocate to find work that justifies their education investment. Similar programs nationally produce first-year earnings in this same $42,000-$46,000 range, suggesting the field itself has a relatively consistent starting point regardless of location. But Providence's moderately selective profile (64% admission rate, 985 average SAT) raises questions about whether students here connect to the higher-paying research or pharmaceutical positions that elevate chemistry careers.

Your child needs to know whether they're willing to move for work and whether Providence's specific industry connections—or lack thereof—will open doors. The debt isn't crushing, but without clearer outcomes data specific to this school, you're betting on national patterns holding true for a small Montana program.