Chemistryat St Olaf College
Graduates earn $44,020/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $613K; scenarios range from $551K to $620K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at St Olaf College
St Olaf College's Chemistry graduates start at $44,020/yr — above the $41,256 national average, though not by a wide margin.
An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $24,988 debt-to-$44,020 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #176 out of 205 programs, St Olaf College's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,020 to $65,522 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable 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 St Olaf College'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 St Olaf College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at St Olaf College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Olaf College, 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 St Olaf College
How does St Olaf College's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 44/100 — 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.
How affordable is Chemistry at St Olaf College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $227,880, but the average net cost is $91,008 — a 60% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.