Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $47,034 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign come in 14% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemistry programs nationally.
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 13% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $47,034 far exceeding the $21,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #35 of 205 nationally, this is a top-5% Chemistry program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $75,401 show a 60% jump from the $47,034 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.