Chemistry at Western Carolina University

Western Carolina's chemistry program reports first-year earnings of just $26,513—roughly $10,000 below the North Carolina median and $16,000 below the national benchmark. That's bottom-quartile performance within the state and 5th percentile nationally. To put this in perspective, chemistry graduates from nearby NC State and East Carolina are earning nearly twice as much in their first year. The modest debt load of $20,824 doesn't salvage the value proposition when earnings are this low.

The critical caveat: this data comes from a very small sample (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year or reflect unusual circumstances among just a handful of students. Perhaps some graduates took gap years, pursued lower-paying lab tech positions temporarily, or went into teaching roles that require additional certification. Chemistry majors typically see strong earnings growth over time, so these initial numbers may not reflect long-term trajectories.

Before dismissing this program based on one weak data point, parents should investigate what's driving these unusually low outcomes. Are graduates successfully gaining admission to graduate programs (which would explain low initial earnings)? What's the actual job placement rate? Given that other North Carolina public universities show chemistry graduates earning $40,000-$48,000 right out of the gate, there's a real risk here—but the small sample size means you're looking at incomplete evidence that demands deeper investigation before making a final call.