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Chemistry at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,944/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 18.5x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #103 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	$506K	$505K	$474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.6x	18.5x	17.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.7x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	57	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

California State University-Los Angeles's Chemistry graduates start at $44,944/yr — above the $41,256 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemistry programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Chemistry's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #103 of 205 Chemistry programs, California State University-Los Angeles falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About California State University-Los Angeles

A 92% acceptance rate means California State University-Los Angeles is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 21,478 in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

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

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-Los Angeles

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at California State University-Los Angeles?

This program scores 57/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemistry programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Chemistry careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $473,701 in decade earnings vs $505,545 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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