Chemistry at Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,813/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI
10.4x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)
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 | $600K | $594K | $538K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.5x | 10.4x | 9.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.9x | 4.9x | 4.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 57% | 54% | 38% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,188
Out-of-state: $121,676 (4.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,054
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,768
67% growth from Year 1
About Wayne State University
A 82% acceptance rate means Wayne State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 15,676 in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at Wayne State University →Top Career Paths
Natural sciences managers
$161,180/yr
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910/yr
Data scientists
$112,590/yr
Compare & Explore
Chemistry at Other Schools
Other Majors at Wayne State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
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 Wayne State University's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Chemistry. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 →