Chemistry bachelor's degree at University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · 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 notably above similar programs.
$8,429 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
30.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$26,373 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+12% · Positive 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+$105,490
$8,000Annual price+$73,490
$16,000Annual price+$41,490
$19,000Current college-wide context+$29,490
$24,000Annual price+$9,490
$32,000Annual price−$22,510
$40,000Annual price−$54,510
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5Not available → $64,235Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort17Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort38Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median42Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt medianNot availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential0Recent 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.
192Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment21Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers80Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count102Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
25Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$73,549$39,491 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 21 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$18,851
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$22,500
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$73,549
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$239/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.
Not availableYear 1
$73,549Year 4
$64,235Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.9% 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$6,129
Estimated loan payment$239
42borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$73,549 vs. $65,120
$8,429 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$126,440 median wageKY estimate · 400 jobs · 11-9121$86,560–$173,620 middle 50% of KY wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemists$84,090 median wageKY estimate · 530 jobs · 19-2031$64,800–$98,190 middle 50% of KY wages+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 5,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$82,550 median wageKY estimate · 250 jobs · 25-1052$62,710–$130,020 middle 50% of KY wages+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeChemical Technicians$60,830 median wageKY estimate · 700 jobs · 19-4031$46,690–$72,560 middle 50% of KY wages+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 7,600 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeForensic Science Technicians$61,470 median wageKY estimate · 60 jobs · 19-4092$51,200–$67,760 middle 50% of KY 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 degreeEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$139,110 median wageKY estimate · 70 jobs · 25-1053$84,130–$179,770 middle 50% of KY wages+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeData Scientists$91,760 median wageKY estimate · 1,540 jobs · 15-2051$75,620–$121,850 middle 50% of KY wages+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Occupations, All Other$89,420 median wageKY estimate · 1,850 jobs · 15-1299$60,170–$115,210 middle 50% of KY wages+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 27,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$80,270 median wageKY estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1054$57,690–$107,130 middle 50% of KY wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$71,040 median wageKY estimate · 1,000 jobs · 19-2041$56,070–$78,850 middle 50% of KY wages+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$64,770 median wageKY estimate · 160 jobs · 19-4013$52,640–$80,490 middle 50% of KY wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree
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.