WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-4% vs national median191 grads tracked

Chemistry at Western Illinois University

Ranked 185th of 293 bachelor's programs in Chemistry by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,769
middle 50%: $28,135 – $52,379
Median · 5 years out
$63,384
middle 50%: $49,855 – $75,086
Median · 10 years out
$79,157
middle 50%: $57,619 – $103,397

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 Western Illinois University's bachelor's program in Chemistry earn a median $39,769 one year after graduating, rising to $79,157 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $65,938 for this field, ranking 185th 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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,035 total interest

Same major at other universities

Kennesaw State University
$63,563 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
$63,563 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$63,533 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$63,522 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Colorado
$63,384 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$63,346 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$63,301 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$63,270 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$63,151 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University Fort Wayne
$63,082 · 5 yrs out
Northern Arizona University
$62,942 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out

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