U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 38% 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 $62,459. College Scorecard.
PLU 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 PLU'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 | $13,609 | $58,519 | 3.0 years |
| $30–48k | $12,948 | $55,676 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $15,756 | $67,751 | 3.4 years |
| $75–110k | $22,535 | $96,901 | 4.9 years |
| $110k+ | $26,915 | $115,735 | 5.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (51% 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 ($59,993) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,774 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Central Washington University | $75,905 | $24,607 | $18,476 | 54% |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $64,676 | $15,389 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | $64,676 | $15,389 | $12,319 | 65% |
| 4 | Pacific Lutheran University | $59,993 | $23,000 | $19,589 | 69% |
| 5 | Western Washington University | $55,793 | $22,104 | $21,193 | 65% |
11 more Washington 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 PLU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About PLU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 69% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $66,990
- Full cost breakdown · all 40 majors · overview
Related majors at PLU
- Biology$53,077
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science$58,472
PLU Chemistry questions
How much do PLU Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median $59,993 four years after graduating and $44,555 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do PLU Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of Pacific Lutheran University is $23,000, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is PLU a good school for Chemistry in Washington?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn $59,993 four years out, $4,683 below the median for the same major across 5 Washington colleges ($64,676) and $6,493 below the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does PLU rank for Chemistry in Washington?
Of 5 Washington colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, Pacific Lutheran University ranks 4th. The highest is Central Washington University at $75,905.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $87,990 in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA area and $91,240 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and data scientists.
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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: “Pacific Lutheran University Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).