Chemistry bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 4005

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$13,907 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 40.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −73% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+122%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,513 → $58,765

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

17Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

47Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$12,472Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,824

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$51,213

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$221/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.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$26,513Year 1

$51,213Year 4

$58,765Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.2% 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$4,268

Estimated loan payment$221

47borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$51,213 vs. $65,120

$13,907 below 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$173,870 median wageNC estimate · 6,010 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemists$82,620 median wageNC estimate · 4,530 jobs · 19-2031+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 5.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$78,620 median wageNC estimate · 900 jobs · 25-1052+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeChemical Technicians$59,030 median wageNC estimate · 2,660 jobs · 19-4031+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 7.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeForensic Science Technicians$59,240 median wageNC estimate · 520 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer and Information Research Scientists$128,370 median wageNC estimate · 600 jobs · 15-1221+21.8% projected U.S. growth · 2.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeData Scientists$119,090 median wageNC estimate · 11,430 jobs · 15-2051+34.6% projected U.S. growth · 24.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Occupations, All Other$104,850 median wageNC estimate · 15,090 jobs · 15-1299+5.1% projected U.S. growth · 27k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$87,370 median wageNC estimate · 440 jobs · 25-1054+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$82,360 median wageNC estimate · 210 jobs · 25-1053+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeEnvironmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$74,130 median wageNC estimate · 4,150 jobs · 19-2041+6.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$57,650 median wageNC estimate · 28,620 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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