WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+2% vs national median378 grads tracked

Chemistry at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 99th of 293 bachelor's programs in Chemistry by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,619
middle 50%: $31,991 – $58,430
Median · 5 years out
$67,157
middle 50%: $54,325 – $86,267
Median · 10 years out
$90,434
middle 50%: $66,603 – $123,827

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Chemistry (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Chemistry earn a median $44,619 one year after graduating, rising to $90,434 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 2% above the national median of $65,938 for this field, ranking 99th of 293 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,316 total interest

Same major at other universities

Midwestern State University
$67,394 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$67,351 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The) - Erie, The Behrend College
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
Tarleton State University
$67,254 · 5 yrs out
James Madison University
$67,222 · 5 yrs out
Wheaton College
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$67,147 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$67,142 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$67,095 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$67,075 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Saint Olaf College
$67,022 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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