Chemistry at Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,022/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 7.6x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #120 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 $685K $674K $595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.8x 7.6x 6.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.5x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$88,328
Out-of-state: $149,848 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,876
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,952
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,121
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,022/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 7.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,952 debt-to-$42,022 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #120 out of 205 programs, Temple University's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $42,022 to $72,121 over five years (72% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Temple University

Temple University accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 21,249 students in Philadelphia, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Temple 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 Temple University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Temple University's Chemistry program score?
A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Temple University trails the majority of Chemistry programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →