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Chemistry at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,847/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.3x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #60 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 50%

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 $588K $582K $529K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.4x 13.3x 12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.4x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 62 61 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,856
Out-of-state: $131,708 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,592
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,650
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,755
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,847/yr, edging above the $41,256 national average for Chemistry — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 13.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,650 debt-to-$44,847 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #60 out of 205 programs, University of Iowa's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,847 to $61,755 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Iowa

University of Iowa has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,691 in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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

Compare this program → View all 205 schools offering Chemistry →

Chemistry at Other Schools

Northeastern University ($62,511) University of California-Berkeley ($59,576) Montclair State University ($55,389) Bridgewater State University ($55,376) University of Delaware ($54,055) Rowan University ($53,607) Towson University ($52,765) State University of New York at Oswego ($52,645)

Other Majors at University of Iowa

Computer Engineering ($79,228) Industrial Engineering ($75,699) Chemical Engineering ($75,340) Statistics ($75,095) Mechanical Engineering ($71,732) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($70,686) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($70,324) Civil Engineering ($70,313)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Iowa's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 61/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →