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Chemistry at California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
57
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,874/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 17.8x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #104 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 $505K $504K $473K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 17.8x 16.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.6x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 57 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,380
Out-of-state: $75,900 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$30,396
-7% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,874/yr, edging above the $41,256 national average for Chemistry — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.8x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #104 out of 205 programs, California State University-Northridge's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 32,357 in Northridge, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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 University-Northridge

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($106,780) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($100,724) Construction Engineering Technologies ($79,352) Public Administration ($76,049) Computer Engineering ($75,692) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,207) Mechanical Engineering ($71,359) Accounting and Related Services ($68,904)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Northridge's Chemistry program score?
A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but California State University-Northridge trails the majority of Chemistry programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →