Bachelor's-13% vs national median269 grads tracked
Chemistry at Western Carolina University
Ranked 261st of 293 bachelor's programs in Chemistry by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$35,986
middle 50%: $24,938 – $47,472
Median · 5 years out
$57,663
middle 50%: $41,492 – $71,370
Median · 10 years out
$74,805
middle 50%: $53,767 – $98,712
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Chemistry (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Chemistry majors at Western Carolina University report a median first-year salary of $36k. Ten-year medians for this program reach $75k.
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
7.4 yrs
≈ $8,913 total interest
Same major at other universities
Black Hills State University
$58,734 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$58,637 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$58,476 · 5 yrs out
South Dakota State University
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southwestern State University
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Northern State University
$57,619 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina Asheville
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
University of West Georgia
$57,265 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Morris
$57,124 · 5 yrs out
Missouri Western State University
$57,124 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University-Pueblo
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out