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 40% 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 $30,359. College Scorecard.
Western Washington 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 Western Washington 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 | $12,915 | $57,213 | 3.7 years |
| $30–48k | $14,147 | $62,671 | 4.0 years |
| $48–75k | $17,539 | $77,698 | 5.0 years |
| $75–110k | $24,301 | $107,653 | 6.9 years |
| $110k+ | $27,984 | $123,969 | 8.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($55,793) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,574 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 Western Washington University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Washington University
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 65% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $62,569
- Full cost breakdown · all 97 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Washington University
- Biology$50,027
- Biochemistry$77,048
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology—
- Physics$63,833
- Geology / Earth Science$67,208
Western Washington University Chemistry questions
How much do Western Washington University Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of Western Washington University earn a median $55,793 four years after graduating and $48,527 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do Western Washington University Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of Western Washington University is $22,104, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is Western Washington University a good school for Chemistry in Washington?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of Western Washington University earn $55,793 four years out, $8,883 below the median for the same major across 5 Washington colleges ($64,676) and $10,693 below the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Washington University rank for Chemistry in Washington?
Of 5 Washington colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, Western Washington University ranks 5th. 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 $64,560 in the Bellingham, WA area and $91,240 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and data scientists.
Is Western Washington University the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing Western Washington University 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: “Western Washington University Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-washington-university/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).