U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 32 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 41% 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 $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University 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 Pennsylvania State University'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 | $19,845 | $83,349 | 2.8 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 2.9 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 3.7 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 5.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% 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 ($65,230) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $29,433 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 Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania 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 | Drexel University | $82,185 | $29,667 | $38,509 | 78% |
| 2 | Temple University | $78,052 | $24,000 | $28,198 | 75% |
| 3 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | $73,146 | — | $18,134 | 43% |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | $70,206 | $27,000 | $15,350 | 48% |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | $70,206 | $27,000 | $17,945 | 40% |
| 6 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | $70,206 | $27,000 | $18,202 | 56% |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $70,206 | $27,000 | $30,434 | 86% |
| 8 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | $69,998 | $20,250 | $20,787 | 58% |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | $65,230 | $27,000 | $24,558 | 44% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University | $65,230 | $27,000 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 11 | Pennsylvania Western University | $65,224 | — | $18,256 | 52% |
| 12 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | $63,088 | — | $15,699 | 54% |
66 more Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Biology$64,910
- Biochemistry$77,336
- Physics$81,763
- Physical Sciences—
- Materials Sciences$92,864
- Geology / Earth Science$81,092
Pennsylvania State University Chemistry questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $65,230 four years after graduating and $47,009 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $27,000, about 41% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Chemistry in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $65,230 four years out, $4,976 below the median for the same major across 12 Pennsylvania colleges ($70,206) and $1,256 below the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Chemistry in Pennsylvania?
Of 12 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 10th. The highest is Drexel University at $82,185.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $107,890 in the State College, PA 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: “Pennsylvania State University Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).