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Chemistry at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,931/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #131 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	$606K	$599K	$542K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.2x	17.0x	15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.9x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	52	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,328

Out-of-state: $87,456 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,908

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

9.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,510

75% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,931 per year, Chemistry graduates from University of Alabama at Birmingham earn below the $41,256 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 17.0x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$33,931 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #131 out of 205 programs, University of Alabama at Birmingham's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $33,931 to $59,510 over five years (75% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Alabama at Birmingham

With 88% of applicants admitted, University of Alabama at Birmingham prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 12,118 in Birmingham, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alabama at Birmingham →

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 University of Alabama at Birmingham

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 University of Alabama at Birmingham's Chemistry program score?

A score of 52/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Alabama at Birmingham 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.

Why are Chemistry earnings lower at University of Alabama at Birmingham?

Lower starting pay at University of Alabama at Birmingham 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 →