Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia Tech chemistry graduates start at $45,513—comfortably above the $39,090 median for Virginia chemistry programs and better than the $42,581 national median. This lands the program at the 60th percentile statewide, trailing only George Mason and James Madison among major Virginia universities. Four years out, earnings reach nearly $52,000, showing solid 14% growth. The $26,497 in typical debt sits well below both state and national averages, producing a manageable 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates can realistically pay down.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in this sample, these numbers could shift considerably with more data. That said, the fundamentals look sound. Virginia Tech's strong STEM reputation and corporate connections in the Mid-Atlantic likely support these outcomes, and the low debt burden means graduates aren't starting their careers in a financial hole even if individual results vary.

For a family weighing in-state options, this represents a practical choice. Your child gets access to a respected research university without excessive debt, and the earnings trajectory suggests chemistry graduates find decent-paying work. The numbers aren't spectacular compared to GMU's chemistry outcomes, but they're reliably above average for Virginia—and that consistency has value when you're writing tuition checks.