Chemistryat Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Graduates earn $42,660/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $742K; scenarios range from $645K to $758K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
At $42,660/yr, Chemistry graduates from Colorado State University-Fort Collins land near the $41,256 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The 14.4x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $16,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #32 out of 205 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $42,660 to $80,180 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Colorado State University-Fort Collins's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Chemistry
How Colorado State University-Fort Collins stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colorado State University-Fort Collins, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Chemistry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Chemistry at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
How does Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 64/100, 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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins rank so high for Chemistry?
The #32 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.