Home › California State University-Fresno › Chemistry

Chemistry at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $18,896/yr (-54% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 22.2x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #183 of 205 Chemistry programs

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	$627K	$619K	$556K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.4x	22.2x	19.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.3x	8.2x	7.4x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	42	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,920

Out-of-state: $75,440 (8.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$25,920

7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,500

11.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,671

168% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $18,896 place California State University-Fresno below the $41,256 national median for Chemistry — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 22.2x 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 $17,500 debt-to-$18,896 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #183 out of 205 programs, California State University-Fresno's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $18,896 to $50,671 over five years (168% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fresno

California State University-Fresno accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 21,070 students in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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

Chemistry at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Fresno

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fresno's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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.

Why are Chemistry earnings lower at California State University-Fresno?

Lower starting pay at California State University-Fresno may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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