Chemistry at University of Vermont

Is a chemistry degree worth $24,000 in debt when earnings hover around $43,000? For UVM's program, comparable bachelor's chemistry graduates nationally start at roughly $42,600—solidly middle class but unspectacular for a STEM field. The estimated debt load of $23,675 translates to a 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits in reasonable territory (you'd prefer to see this under 0.5, but it's not alarming). The real concern is what these figures don't reveal: chemistry bachelor's graduates often need graduate school for career advancement, and these numbers only capture those entering the workforce immediately.

Vermont has six chemistry programs, but none report sufficient graduate numbers for direct comparison, making it impossible to gauge whether UVM offers particular advantages over Norwich or Saint Michael's. What we can say is that UVM's selectivity (60% admission rate, 1357 average SAT) suggests reasonably prepared students, and its low Pell grant population (13%) indicates families with resources—potentially important if grad school becomes necessary.

The math works if your child plans to work directly after graduation, but chemistry careers typically require patience. If a master's or PhD is likely within five years, factor that additional debt and delayed earnings into your calculations. Without school-specific outcomes, you're making this decision somewhat blind—ask UVM's chemistry department for employment data on their recent graduates before committing.