Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $42,677 track close to the $41,256 national median for Chemistry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 14.3x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $25,000 debt-to-$42,677 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #59 out of 205 programs, Ball State University's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $42,677 to $65,443 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.