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Chemistry at University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,140/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)

ROI 15.4x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 10%

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	$725K	$711K	$622K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.8x	15.4x	13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,020

Out-of-state: $161,224 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,360

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,738

4.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$78,447

70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,140 at University of Maryland-College Park come in 12% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.4x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $46,140 far exceeding the $16,738 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #12 of 205 programs, University of Maryland-College Park's Chemistry program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $78,447 show a 70% jump from the $46,140 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Maryland-College Park

A 45% admission rate makes University of Maryland-College Park accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 30,246 students enrolled in College Park, MD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maryland-College Park →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at University of Maryland-College Park?

A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Chemistry field.

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 $621,886 in decade earnings vs $724,874 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →