Chemistry bachelor's degree at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$1,366 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
35.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$8,715 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−16% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$34,860
$8,000Annual price+$2,860
$16,000Annual price−$29,140
$19,000Current college-wide context−$41,140
$24,000Annual price−$61,140
$32,000Annual price−$93,140
$40,000Annual price−$125,140
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$43,870 → Not availableNot availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohortNot availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median39Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
116Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment28Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers50Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count78Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$66,486$30,404 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$18,589
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$23,250
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$66,486
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$246/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$43,870Year 1
$66,486Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.4% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$5,541
Estimated loan payment$246
39borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$66,486 vs. $65,120
$1,366 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Natural Sciences Managers$109,760 median wageIA estimate · 610 jobs · 11-9121$82,550–$157,260 middle 50% of IA wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemists$86,100 median wageIA estimate · 570 jobs · 19-2031$68,740–$106,810 middle 50% of IA wages+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 5,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$82,050 median wageIA estimate · 230 jobs · 25-1052$64,100–$127,200 middle 50% of IA wages+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeChemical Technicians$58,090 median wageIA estimate · 440 jobs · 19-4031$50,630–$63,480 middle 50% of IA wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 7,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeForensic Science Technicians$67,060 median wageIA estimate · 130 jobs · 19-4092$51,960–$77,360 middle 50% of IA wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$140,300 median wageU.S. estimate · 37,200 jobs · 15-1221+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeComputer Occupations, All Other$107,340 median wageIA estimate · 3,850 jobs · 15-1299$77,020–$134,850 middle 50% of IA wages+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 27,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$104,270 median wageIA estimate · 120 jobs · 25-1054$77,680–$127,640 middle 50% of IA wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeData Scientists$95,830 median wageIA estimate · 2,300 jobs · 15-2051$71,010–$127,340 middle 50% of IA wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$79,570 median wageIA estimate · 40 jobs · 25-1053$64,980–$97,630 middle 50% of IA wages+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$78,780 median wageIA estimate · 690 jobs · 19-2041$62,080–$91,070 middle 50% of IA wages+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,200 median wageIA estimate · 12,310 jobs · 25-2031$49,390–$73,970 middle 50% of IA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Educational Services
about 23.0%02
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 20.7%03
Manufacturing
about 20.2%04
Retail Trade
about 8.3%05
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 6.1%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Berkeley, CA
University of California, Berkeley
$15,900 higher earnings · $12,078 less debt · $5,108 lower annual net price