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Chemistry at Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,159/yr (-17% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)

ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #188 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	$435K	$439K	$426K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.3x	11.3x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.3x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	41	40	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,680

Out-of-state: $83,192 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,356

-79% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

5.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (4 Year)

$36,977

8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,159 per year, Chemistry graduates from Fort Lewis College earn below the $41,256 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.3x 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.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #188 of 205 Chemistry programs, Fort Lewis College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Fort Lewis College

With 93% of applicants admitted, Fort Lewis College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 3,070 students in Durango, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Lewis College →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at Fort Lewis College?

A score of 40/100 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 $426,143 in decade earnings vs $435,155 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Chemistry from Fort Lewis College?

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 →