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Chemistry at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,799/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #144 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 $511K $510K $477K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.4x 9.4x 8.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 51 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,264
-61% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,750
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,799/yr, edging above the $41,256 national average for Chemistry — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,750 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,799 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #144 of 205 Chemistry programs, James Madison University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About James Madison University

James Madison University has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison University →

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 James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($81,761) Information Science/Studies ($80,173) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,490) Accounting and Related Services ($71,563) Engineering, General ($71,176) Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,849) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,931) Systems Science and Theory ($65,683)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at James Madison University?
This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemistry programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $477,470 in decade earnings vs $511,126 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →