Chemistryat University of California-Santa Barbara
Graduates earn $47,197/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $715K; scenarios range from $625K to $730K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Santa Barbara
First-year earnings of $47,197 at University of California-Santa Barbara come in 14% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.
The 11.9x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $47,197 far exceeding the $15,805 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #27 out of 205 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $47,197 to $79,458 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary 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 UC Santa Barbara'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 UC Santa Barbara stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Santa Barbara
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Santa Barbara, 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 UC Santa Barbara
How does University of California-Santa Barbara's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Chemistry graduates.
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 does University of California-Santa Barbara rank so high for Chemistry?
The #27 ranking out of 205 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.