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Chemistry at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,685/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 14.8x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #166 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	$635K	$626K	$561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.0x	14.8x	13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.2x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$42,240

Out-of-state: $121,400 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,720

-75% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,490

8.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,248

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,685 place Stony Brook University below the $41,256 national median for Chemistry — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 14.8x 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.

The $21,490 debt-to-$31,685 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #166 out of 205 programs, Stony Brook University's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,685 to $61,248 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Stony Brook University

A 49% admission rate makes Stony Brook University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, enrolling 17,420 students in Stony Brook, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Stony Brook 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 Stony Brook 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

How does Stony Brook University's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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.

Why are Chemistry earnings lower at Stony Brook University?

Lower starting pay at Stony Brook University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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