Chemistry at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
67
Optimistic
66
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,581/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 22.2x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 10%

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 $685K $674K $595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.5x 22.2x 19.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.8x 8.6x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 67 66 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (8.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,263
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,393
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,581/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,263 debt-to-$42,581 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #20 ranking out of 205 Chemistry programs nationally puts California State University-Sacramento in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $42,581 to $72,393 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

California State University-Sacramento accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 27,867 students in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

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

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

Compare Chemistry

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

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-Sacramento's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 66/100, 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 →