Chemistry at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
52
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

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 →