Program Analysis
Graduates earn $42,475/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 15.4x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 8% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemistry career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $42,475 far exceeding the $18,608 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #98 ranking among 205 Chemistry programs places Austin Peay State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 28% earnings increase from $42,475 to $54,314 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.