Chemistry at Valley City State University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 puts this program in reasonable territory for a science degree, though the figures here are drawn from national chemistry benchmarks rather than Valley City State's specific outcomes. With an estimated $23,675 in debt and first-year earnings around $42,581, graduates would face manageable loan payments—roughly half of what student debt experts consider the upper limit of affordability.

Chemistry bachelor's degrees nationally produce fairly consistent outcomes, with the median sitting at $42,581 and the 75th percentile reaching just $45,799. That narrow range suggests the field doesn't vary wildly by institution, which offers some reassurance when working with estimated data. Valley City State's smaller program size (which triggers the data suppression) could mean more personalized attention in labs and coursework, though it also limits your ability to verify actual graduate outcomes at this specific campus.

The practical calculation: if your student borrows the estimated amount, monthly payments would run about $265 on a standard 10-year plan—manageable on a $42,000 starting salary. The risk lies in the uncertainty: these estimates could understate debt if your student needs extra time to complete the degree or takes additional loans, and actual starting salaries in North Dakota's smaller job market might differ from the national median. Request placement data directly from Valley City State's chemistry department to see where recent graduates actually landed.