Chemistry at Whitworth University

Whitworth's chemistry graduates earn $33,203 in their first year—roughly $13,000 below Washington's median for chemistry majors and nearly $10,000 below the national benchmark. Among Washington's 16 chemistry programs, this ranks at just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of state programs deliver stronger starting salaries. Comparable private schools like Pacific Lutheran see graduates earning $44,555, a 34% premium over Whitworth's outcomes.

The $26,000 debt load sits slightly above both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78. That's not catastrophic—graduates could theoretically repay within a year's gross salary—but it assumes living expenses won't constrain repayment. The real concern is opportunity cost: Washington State offers multiple chemistry programs with significantly better earnings trajectories, and some are less expensive public options.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with future cohorts, but the 11-point gap between national and state percentiles suggests a consistent pattern rather than statistical noise. For families paying private tuition, this program struggles to justify its cost when University of Washington campuses and Western Washington deliver 40% higher starting salaries. Unless Whitworth offers compelling non-financial advantages—research opportunities, graduate school placement, or professional networks—chemistry-focused students should explore Washington's stronger programs first.