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Chemistry at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,294/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 20.7x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 25%

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 $624K $616K $554K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.0x 20.7x 18.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 8.0x 7.2x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,756
Out-of-state: $77,276 (8.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,320
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,333
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,641
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,294/yr, Chemistry graduates from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona land near the $41,256 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,333 debt-to-$43,294 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #25 out of 205 programs, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $43,294 to $65,641 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

With 74% of applicants admitted, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona prioritizes broad access, serving a student body of 24,271 in Pomona, 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-Pomona →

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-Pomona

Construction Engineering Technologies ($87,960) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,827) Manufacturing Engineering ($79,549) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($78,320) Civil Engineering ($75,758) Industrial Engineering ($75,110) Mechanical Engineering ($75,040) Computer Engineering ($70,768)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Chemistry graduates.
How vulnerable is Chemistry to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Chemistry careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona rank so high for Chemistry?
The #25 ranking out of 205 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →