Chemistry at Louisiana Tech University

Ruston, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,572/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #147 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 $490K $490K $463K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.1x 12.1x 11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.3x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,500
Out-of-state: $67,464 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,836
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $42,572/yr, Chemistry graduates from Louisiana Tech University land near the $41,256 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.1x 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 $27,000 debt-to-$42,572 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #147 out of 205 programs, Louisiana Tech University's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Louisiana Tech University

With 73% of applicants admitted, Louisiana Tech University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 7,819 in Ruston, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Louisiana Tech 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

Chemistry at Other Schools

Other Majors at Louisiana Tech University

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 Louisiana Tech University's Chemistry program score?
A score of 50/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Louisiana Tech University trails the majority of Chemistry programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →