Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,842
Est. from KY median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,994
Est. from national median (56 programs)

Analysis

A Chemistry bachelor's degree from University of the Cumberlands appears to land right in the middle of Kentucky's range for this field. While we don't have actual outcomes from this specific program, similar Chemistry programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $41,800—essentially matching the national median for Chemistry graduates. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 means graduates would owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary, a manageable level that's close to the national median debt for this major.

The estimated $25,000 debt load represents a real financial commitment, but it's reasonable given that Chemistry degrees typically lead to laboratory, research, or industrial positions with clear career paths. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, the university serves many families for whom affordability matters significantly. The key uncertainty here is whether this particular program's graduates perform at the state median or cluster nearer to the higher end seen at Murray State ($48,000) or the lower outcomes at Eastern Kentucky ($34,500).

For families comfortable with the estimation uncertainty, the financial profile suggests solid middle-ground value. Chemistry graduates generally find employment in their field, and starting near $42,000 with under $25,000 in debt creates breathing room for loan repayment. You'd want to verify what laboratory facilities and industry connections this program offers—those practical elements often determine whether graduates land toward the higher or lower end of Kentucky's earnings range.

Where University of the Cumberlands Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all chemistry bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg$9,875$41,842*$24,994*
Murray State UniversityMurray$9,708$48,334*$25,000*0.52
University of LouisvilleLouisville$12,828$41,842*$24,411*0.58
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond$10,130$34,512*$57,563$23,584*0.68
National Median$42,581*$24,000*0.56
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with chemistry graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chemists

Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.

$86,620/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

$80,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of the Cumberlands, approximately 48% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in KY. Actual outcomes may vary.