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Chemistry at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,140/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 29.5x earnings multiple (11.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 1%

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 $900K $875K $740K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 30.3x 29.5x 24.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.7x 11.3x 9.6x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (11.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,528
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,846
115% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

San Francisco State University's Chemistry graduates start at $44,140/yr — above the $41,256 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 29.5x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

A #3 ranking out of 205 programs puts San Francisco State University in the top 1% for Chemistry. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth from $44,140 to $94,846 over five years (115% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Francisco State University

A 96% acceptance rate means San Francisco State University is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 20,033 in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at San Francisco 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

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)

Compare Chemistry

San Francisco State University vs Bridgewater State University → San Francisco State University vs Towson University →

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($117,532) Mechanical Engineering ($72,647) Civil Engineering ($68,256) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($67,345) Finance and Financial Management Services ($62,778) Accounting and Related Services ($60,607) International Business ($58,560) Microbiological Sciences and Immunology ($56,071)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 San Francisco State University's Chemistry program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Francisco State University's Chemistry graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 Francisco State University rank so high for Chemistry?
The #3 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →