Chemistry at Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,940/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.8x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #81 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 $550K $547K $504K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.9x 14.8x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.2x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,912
Out-of-state: $76,080 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,100
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,874
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,588
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,940 per year, Chemistry graduates from Sam Houston State University earn slightly above the $41,256 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x 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 $23,874 represents roughly 7 months of the $43,940 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #81 of 205 Chemistry programs, Sam Houston State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $43,940 to $56,588 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Sam Houston State University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Sam Houston State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 18,138 in Huntsville, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston 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 Sam Houston State University?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Chemistry field.
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 $503,899 in decade earnings vs $550,243 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →