Chemistry at Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,488/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI
19.6x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Chemistry graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $599K | $592K | $537K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 19.9x | 19.6x | 17.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 6.0x | 5.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 57% | 54% | 38% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 62 | 61 | 60 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,164
Out-of-state: $98,148 (6.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,894
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,601
52% growth from Year 1
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 19,304 in Boone, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at Appalachian State University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910/yr
Data scientists
$112,590/yr
Compare & Explore
Chemistry at Other Schools
Other Majors at Appalachian State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at Appalachian State University?
A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Chemistry field.
Will AI replace Chemistry careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $536,717 in decade earnings vs $598,817 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →