Chemistry: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$42,544 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$42,544Median year-4 earnings
$6,876Average institution net-price context
$13,818Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Chemistry
How much do Chemistry undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $42,544 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $13,818. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Chemistry?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $42,544 to $42,544 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Chemistry?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$42,544Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$13,818Median federal debt
32thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
4IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,544
- Federal debt
- $13,818
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,787
- Federal debt
- $12,412
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,171
- Federal debt
- $24,000
- Reporting programs
- 277
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,163
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $116,122
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 38
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $90,234
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$42,544National median$42,54475th percentile$42,544
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Niagara County Community College$42,544Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →37%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Natural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$93,250 median wage19,980 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1052+2.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$57,870–$172,110 10th–90th percentileChemists$91,240 median wage82,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2031+6.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$58,460–$160,830 10th–90th percentileChemical Technicians$60,390 median wage57,540 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4031+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$41,740–$92,040 10th–90th percentileForensic Science Technicians$72,060 median wage19,120 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4092+13.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,250–$117,250 10th–90th percentileComputer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 median wage37,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1221+21.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$82,200–$230,630 10th–90th percentileData Scientists$120,230 median wage262,440 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2051+34.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$67,240–$199,130 10th–90th percentileComputer Occupations, All Other$116,580 median wage435,370 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-1299+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 27k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$55,940–$188,470 10th–90th percentilePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$100,310 median wage13,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1054+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$60,200–$177,850 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$94,980 median wage6,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1053+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$57,780–$164,190 10th–90th percentileEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220 median wage89,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-2041+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,520–$140,010 10th–90th percentileSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040 median wage1,065,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2031-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 63.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,780–$107,600 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niagara County Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sanborn, NY | $42,544 | $13,818 | WithheldBaseline needed | $6,876 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.