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Physical Sciences · Chemistry Rank #84 of 205

Chemistryat Fort Hays State University

Graduates earn $44,261/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $479K; scenarios range from $455K to $479K depending on AI disruption.

Hays, KS Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
59 SOLID
59
Optimistic
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,261
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$479K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University's Chemistry graduates start at $44,261/yr — above the $41,256 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 21.3x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $30,689 debt-to-$44,261 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #84 out of 205 programs, Fort Hays State University's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $44,261 to $46,464 over five years (5% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$455K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score56/100
Earnings Multiple20.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$479K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple21.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$479K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple21.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Fort Hays State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemistry graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Computer and information research scientists
+19.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$140,910/yr
High
3
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
4
Computer occupations, all other
+8.2% 10-yr growth · 31,300 openings/yr
$108,970/yr
High
5
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
6
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemistry

How Fort Hays State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
64
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
10.0x
ROI
Montclair State University
NJ · Public
56
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
8.4x
ROI
Bridgewater State University
MA · Public
72
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
17.2x
ROI
University of Delaware
DE · Public
66
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
Also at Fort Hays State University

Other top programs at Fort Hays State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fort Hays State University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemistry at Fort Hays State University

How does Fort Hays State University's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 59/100, 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.