U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 30 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 $31,638. College Scorecard.
University of South Carolina-Columbia 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 University of South Carolina-Columbia'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 | $12,634 | $52,178 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $14,953 | $61,756 | 2.5 years |
| $48–75k | $19,859 | $82,018 | 3.3 years |
| $75–110k | $24,478 | $101,094 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $28,125 | $116,156 | 4.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (69% 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 ($58,462) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $24,946 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 South Carolina colleges
Every South 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 | Clemson University | $67,996 | $27,000 | $22,253 | 87% |
| 2 | Winthrop University | $60,324 | $26,037 | $15,343 | 57% |
| 3 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $58,462 | $25,046 | $22,811 | 79% |
22 more South 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 University of South Carolina-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 60% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 79% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,177
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Biology$58,669
- Biochemistry$67,202
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology$55,093
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science$70,284
University of South Carolina-Columbia Chemistry questions
How much do University of South Carolina-Columbia Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia earn a median $58,462 four years after graduating and $39,018 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do University of South Carolina-Columbia Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia is $25,046, about 43% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is University of South Carolina-Columbia a good school for Chemistry in South Carolina?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of University of South Carolina-Columbia earn $58,462 four years out, $1,862 below the median for the same major across 3 South Carolina colleges ($60,324) and $8,024 below the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of South Carolina-Columbia rank for Chemistry in South Carolina?
Of 3 South Carolina colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 3rd. The highest is Clemson University at $67,996.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $73,430 in the Columbia, SC 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 South Carolina-Columbia Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-south-carolina-columbia/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).