U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 25 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 43% 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 $28,596. College Scorecard.
University of Iowa Chemistry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 University of Iowa'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 | $15,316 | $64,940 | 2.8 years |
| $30–48k | $15,489 | $65,673 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $19,930 | $84,503 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $23,811 | $100,959 | 4.3 years |
| $110k+ | $26,266 | $111,368 | 4.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (57% 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 ($60,227) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $23,566 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Iowa State University | $66,486 | $23,250 | $18,589 | 75% |
| 2 | University of Iowa | $60,227 | $25,956 | $22,531 | 75% |
21 more Iowa 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 University of Iowa, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 84% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $64,762
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Iowa
- Biology$60,450
- Biochemistry$65,072
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science—
- Astronomy and Astrophysics—
University of Iowa Chemistry questions
How much do University of Iowa Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of University of Iowa earn a median $60,227 four years after graduating and $44,847 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do University of Iowa Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of University of Iowa is $25,956, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Where does University of Iowa rank for Chemistry in Iowa?
Of 2 Iowa colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, University of Iowa ranks 2nd. The highest is Iowa State University at $66,486.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $65,270 in the Iowa City, IA 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: “University of Iowa Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-iowa/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).