Chemistryat North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Graduates earn $47,071/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $518K; scenarios range from $483K to $519K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at NC State
First-year earnings of $47,071 at North Carolina State University at Raleigh come in 14% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.
The 14.6x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $47,071 far exceeding the $16,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #113 out of 205 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to NC State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Chemistry
How NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at NC State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, 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 →Frequently asked about Chemistry at NC State
How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemistry program score?
A score of 56/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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.