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Chemistry at Radford University

Radford, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,090/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #174 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 $467K $469K $448K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.5x 9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.7x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,144
Out-of-state: $100,740 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$66,560
-35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,090 track close to the $41,256 national median for Chemistry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 9.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,500 debt-to-$39,090 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #174 out of 205 programs, Radford University's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Radford University

Radford University has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 5,609 in Radford, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Radford 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 Radford University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($69,662) Computer Science ($66,857) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($63,606) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($58,997) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($55,861) Accounting and Related Services ($51,643) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,446) Information Science/Studies ($46,446)

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

How does Radford University's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Chemistry. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 →