Chemistryat The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Graduates earn $41,588/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $590K; scenarios range from $535K to $596K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
First-year earnings of $41,588 track close to the $41,256 national median for Chemistry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemistry programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Chemistry's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $24,499 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,588 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #89 of 205 Chemistry programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $41,588 to $61,703 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career 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 University of Tennessee-Chattanooga'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 University of Tennessee-Chattanooga stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 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 University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Chemistry field.
Will AI replace Chemistry careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $534,980 in decade earnings vs $596,243 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.