Chemistry at Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
62
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,889/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.6x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #50 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 $649K $640K $571K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.8x 13.6x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 62 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,160
Out-of-state: $161,928 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,368
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,499
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,889/yr, Chemistry graduates from Indiana University-Bloomington land near the $41,256 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 13.6x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $17,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #50 out of 205 programs, Indiana University-Bloomington's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $42,889 to $68,499 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Indiana University-Bloomington

With 80% of applicants admitted, Indiana University-Bloomington prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 36,571 students in Bloomington, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Bloomington →

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

Chemistry at Other Schools

Other Majors at Indiana University-Bloomington

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Indiana University-Bloomington's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 62/100, 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 Indiana University-Bloomington rank so high for Chemistry?
The #50 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 →