U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 55 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,600.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $23,867. College Scorecard.
ECU Chemistry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemistry nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses ECU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,046 | $43,700 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $11,699 | $50,891 | 1.3 years |
| $48–75k | $14,904 | $64,832 | 1.7 years |
| $75–110k | $20,417 | $88,814 | 2.3 years |
| $110k+ | $23,028 | $100,172 | 2.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (43% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Chemistry graduates 4 years after graduating ($71,445) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $37,929 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemistry at North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina college we cover that reports Chemistry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $76,978 | $20,154 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 2 | East Carolina University | $71,445 | $24,250 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 3 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $65,982 | $19,935 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $64,981 | $14,250 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $63,288 | $25,766 | $10,260 | 44% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $60,978 | $26,000 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Asheville | $60,021 | $12,825 | $12,250 | 54% |
| 8 | Appalachian State University | $58,329 | $24,949 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 9 | Western Carolina University | $51,213 | $20,824 | $13,315 | 60% |
32 more North Carolina colleges offer Chemistry but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Chemistry graduates
Chemist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at ECU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ECU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 63% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,146
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at ECU
- Biology$64,205
- Biochemistry—
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science—
ECU Chemistry questions
How much do ECU Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of East Carolina University earn a median $71,445 four years after graduating and $47,875 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do ECU Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of East Carolina University is $24,250, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is ECU a good school for Chemistry in North Carolina?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of East Carolina University earn $71,445 four years out, $8,157 above the median for the same major across 9 North Carolina colleges ($63,288) and $4,959 above the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does ECU rank for Chemistry in North Carolina?
Of 9 North Carolina colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, East Carolina University ranks 2nd. The highest is North Carolina State University at Raleigh at $76,978.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $82,620 in North Carolina and $91,240 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and data scientists.
Is ECU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing ECU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “East Carolina University Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/east-carolina-university/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).