Location: Whitewater, WI•In-State Tuition: $8,250•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,916•Admission Rate: 83%•Avg SAT: 1090
Median Earnings (1yr)
$48,903
89th percentile
60th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$25,250
5% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.52 ManageableSample: 34 graduates

Analysis

UW-Whitewater's chemistry program punches well above its weight, placing graduates in the 89th percentile nationally for earnings—nearly $6,300 above the typical chemistry graduate. With first-year earnings of $48,903 and debt around $25,250, graduates face a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio. Within Wisconsin, the program sits squarely in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, trailing flagship Madison by just $17 but competitive with stronger-ranked state schools like Eau Claire and Platteville.

The moderate sample size and 12% earnings growth to $54,746 suggest stable outcomes rather than outlier results. What makes this particularly appealing is the combination: accessible admission (83% acceptance rate) paired with top-tier graduate outcomes. Students who might not gain admission to more selective programs can achieve comparable or better financial results here.

For families prioritizing return on investment in a STEM field, this represents a straightforward value proposition. Your child gets chemistry degree outcomes that beat 89% of programs nationwide at a cost that won't require years of financial strain to resolve.

Where University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Stands

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

University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterOther chemistry programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater earns $49k — 89th percentile among chemistry bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater$48,903$54,746+12%
Northeastern University$62,511$88,634+42%
University of Wisconsin-Madison$48,886$62,892+29%
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$36,771$55,756+52%
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire$50,659$54,532+8%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Chemistry bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (28 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater$8,250$48,903$54,746$25,2500.52
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire$9,277$50,659$54,532$23,2500.46
University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville$8,315$49,386—$26,0000.53
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison$11,205$48,886$62,892$26,0430.53
Carthage CollegeKenosha$36,500$45,188—$27,0000.60
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee$10,020$36,771$55,756——
National Median—$42,581—$24,0000.56

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 Wisconsin-Whitewater, approximately 25% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 34 graduates with reported earnings and 36 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.