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Physical Sciences · Chemistry Rank #21 of 205

Chemistryat University of Delaware

Graduates earn $54,055/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Chemistry average. Base-case 10-year earnings $674K; scenarios range from $596K to $686K depending on AI disruption.

Newark, DE Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
66 SOLID
67
Optimistic
62
Pessimistic
Earnings
$54,055
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$674K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Delaware

The strong financial outcomes you're seeing for Chemistry at the University of Delaware aren't just about lab work. Newark's location places you squarely within a major hub for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and specialty chemical industries, particularly in the Philadelphia-Wilmington corridor. Companies like DuPont, AstraZeneca, and various contract research organizations frequently recruit from UDel, valuing the program's rigorous scientific foundation. Many graduates leverage their strong analytical and problem-solving skills to pivot into roles like R&D management, quality control, or even computational chemistry and data science, which the listed career paths reflect. These aren't just bench jobs; they're high-value positions in a robust regional economy. To capitalize fully, actively pursue internships and research opportunities that bridge traditional chemistry with computational or data analysis skills, directly aligning you with these in-demand career trajectories.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$596K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple9.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$674K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$686K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Delaware's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemistry graduates typically work

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.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Computer and information research scientists
+19.7% 10-yr growth · 3,200 openings/yr
$140,910/yr
High
3
Data scientists
+33.5% 10-yr growth · 23,400 openings/yr
$112,590/yr
High
4
Computer occupations, all other
+8.2% 10-yr growth · 31,300 openings/yr
$108,970/yr
High
5
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
6
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary
+2.9% 10-yr growth · 700 openings/yr
$87,710/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemistry

How University of Delaware stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Northeastern University
MA · Private nonprofit
61
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
64
DW Score
$60K
1-yr earn
10.0x
ROI
Montclair State University
NJ · Public
56
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
8.4x
ROI
Bridgewater State University
MA · Public
72
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
17.2x
ROI
Towson University
MD · Public
70
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
16.5x
ROI
Also at University of Delaware

Other top programs at University of Delaware

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Delaware, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemistry at University of Delaware

How does University of Delaware's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 66/100, 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.