Chemistry at University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Wisconsin chemistry programs cluster tightly around $49,000 in first-year earnings, and UW-Parkside's estimated outcomes sit right in that range. With peer programs at comparable UW campuses reporting nearly identical figures—Whitewater at $48,903, Madison at $48,886—there's reason to believe this estimate reflects realistic earning potential. The projected $25,625 in debt is close to the national median for chemistry degrees and produces a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically dedicate half their first year's salary to loans and clear the balance.

The real question is whether this specific campus provides the lab facilities, research opportunities, and industry connections that chemistry students need. UW-Parkside serves a meaningful population of first-generation college students (34% Pell recipients), but chemistry careers often depend heavily on lab experience and faculty mentorship during undergrad. The small sample size that triggered data suppression could indicate either a boutique program with personalized attention or an underdeveloped department struggling to attract majors.

Visit campus and ask direct questions: What's the student-to-faculty ratio in chemistry labs? Where do recent graduates work or pursue grad school? The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but chemistry is hands-on enough that program quality varies dramatically even when the diploma says the same thing.