Chemistryat San Diego State University
Graduates earn $43,603/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $626K; scenarios range from $561K to $635K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at San Diego State
First-year earnings of $43,603 at San Diego State University come in 6% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.
The 18.9x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $43,603 far exceeding the $17,999 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #28 out of 205 programs, San Diego State University's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $43,603 to $67,059 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to San Diego State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Chemistry
How San Diego State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at San Diego State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at San Diego State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Chemistry offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Chemistry at San Diego State
How does San Diego State University's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 65/100, 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.
Why does San Diego State University rank so high for Chemistry?
The #28 ranking out of 205 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.