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Chemistry at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,972/yr (-18% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.8x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #184 of 205 Chemistry programs

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 $434K $437K $425K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.7x 13.8x 13.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.5x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,668
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Chemistry graduates start at $33,972/yr, trailing the $41,256 national average by 18%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemistry programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Chemistry's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,972 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #184 of 205 Chemistry programs, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

A 99% acceptance rate means California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,491 in Arcata, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Data scientists $112,590/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 205 schools offering Chemistry →

Chemistry at Other Schools

Northeastern University ($62,511) University of California-Berkeley ($59,576) Montclair State University ($55,389) Bridgewater State University ($55,376) University of Delaware ($54,055) Rowan University ($53,607) Towson University ($52,765) State University of New York at Oswego ($52,645)

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($55,589) Forestry ($52,810) Plant Sciences ($44,038) Computer Science ($37,153) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($36,586) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($36,444) Political Science and Government ($36,079) Social Work ($35,693)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Chemistry. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $425,317 in decade earnings vs $433,933 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Chemistry from California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →