Chemistry at University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
50
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)
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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,178
42% growth from Year 1
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
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 →