Chemistry at Columbus State University
GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 40.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Chemistry degree from Columbus State University earn a median salary of $69,154 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $76,413. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$52,527
Typical Career
$69,154
Top Performers
$90,582
Estimated break-even: 7.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$461
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,763. Most students can comfortably afford about a $461 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Finance & Insurance.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$76,413
Nominal: $69,154 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $26,038 | $41,326 | $52,872 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $52,527 | $69,154 | $90,582 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $54,993 | $80,325 | $126,300 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $69,154 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $69,154 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050)
= $76,413 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
In terms of career pathways, graduates primarily enter the Educational Services (21.5%) and Health Care & Social Assistance (21.3%) sectors, with a notable presence in Finance & Insurance (11.6%). The estimated break-even point for those pursuing a Chemistry degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 7.1 years, suggesting that the investment in higher education can yield a favorable return over time. Overall, the data indicates a positive return on investment for Chemistry graduates, particularly when considering long-term earning potential and industry demand.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Chemistry degree at Columbus State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.