Chemistry at Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,395/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI
18.7x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
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 | $863K | $841K | $715K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 19.2x | 18.7x | 15.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.2x | 7.0x | 5.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 57% | 54% | 38% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 60 | 59 | 61 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (7.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,800
140% growth from Year 1
About Portland State University
Portland State University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 13,619 students in Portland, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910/yr
Data scientists
$112,590/yr
Compare & Explore
Chemistry at Other Schools
Other Majors at Portland State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
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 Portland State University's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 59/100, 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 →