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Chemistry at Salem State University

Salem, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,439/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)

ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #123 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	$535K	$532K	$494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.2x	11.1x	10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.0x	6.5x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$47,912

Out-of-state: $75,844 (7.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,764

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,750

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,439 at Salem State University come in 20% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemistry programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Chemistry's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,750 represents roughly 6 months of the $49,439 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #123 of 205 Chemistry programs, Salem State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Salem State University

Salem State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,286 students in Salem, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Salem 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

Other Majors at Salem State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at Salem State University?

This program scores 54/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemistry programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Chemistry careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,521 in decade earnings vs $534,880 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →