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Chemistry at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,676/yr (-4% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #146 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	$557K	$553K	$508K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.8x	9.8x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.1x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,680

Out-of-state: $179,788 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,828

3% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,178

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,676/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,676 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #146 of 205 Chemistry programs, University of California-Riverside falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $39,676 to $56,178 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Riverside

A 63% admission rate makes University of California-Riverside accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 22,644 students in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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 California-Riverside

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at University of California-Riverside?

This program scores 50/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemistry programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $508,308 in decade earnings vs $556,767 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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