Chemistry: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
$95,163 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.
Observed national outcomes
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.
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Villanova University$109,3882University of California, Los Angeles$107,7243St. John's University-New York$101,6694University of North Carolina Wilmington$99,1065University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$95,1636University of Oregon$94,7287Florida State University$94,5138Georgia State University$78,0709Bowling Green State University-Main Campus$59,919Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
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 | Villanova UniversityMaster's Degree | Villanova, PA | $109,388 | Not available | Baseline needed | $43,756 |
| 2 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $107,724 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 3 | St. John's University-New YorkMaster's Degree | Queens, NY | $101,669 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,999 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonMaster's Degree | Wilmington, NC | $99,106 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,109 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $95,163 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 6 | University of OregonMaster's Degree | Eugene, OR | $94,728 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,182 |
| 7 | Florida State UniversityMaster's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $94,513 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,297 |
| 8 | Georgia State UniversityMaster's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $78,070 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,931 |
| 9 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusMaster's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $59,919 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,022 |
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.