Chemistry at Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,779/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #80 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 50%

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 $673K $662K $587K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.5x 12.3x 10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.6x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,976
Out-of-state: $142,656 (4.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,272
-45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,916
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,654
69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,779/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.3x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,916 debt-to-$41,779 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #80 out of 205 programs, Oregon State University's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $41,779 to $70,654 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Oregon State University

Oregon State University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 29,557 in Corvallis, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State 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

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 60/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →