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Chemistry at California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,131/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #100 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 $513K $512K $479K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.8x 18.8x 17.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.8x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,268
Out-of-state: $74,788 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,168
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

California State University-Channel Islands's Chemistry graduates start at $46,131/yr — above the $41,256 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 18.8x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,250 in median debt clears quickly against $46,131 in annual earnings.

Ranked #100 out of 205 programs, California State University-Channel Islands's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About California State University-Channel Islands

A 93% acceptance rate means California State University-Channel Islands is accessible to most applicants, serving 5,230 students in Camarillo, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Channel Islands →

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 California State University-Channel Islands

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,484) Computer Science ($59,374) Economics ($57,440) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,581) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($45,552) Communication and Media Studies ($40,109) Biology, General ($38,344) Sociology ($36,557)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Channel Islands's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 58/100, 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 →