Chemistry at Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,245/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 9.1x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #143 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 $602K $596K $539K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.2x 9.1x 8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.9x 4.8x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,404
Out-of-state: $123,952 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$88,788
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,500
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,514
57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,245 track close to the $41,256 national median for Chemistry programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 9.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,500 debt-to-$39,245 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #143 out of 205 programs, Christopher Newport University's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $39,245 to $61,514 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Christopher Newport University

Christopher Newport University has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 4,402 in Newport News, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Christopher Newport University →

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 Christopher Newport University

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 Christopher Newport University's Chemistry program score?
A score of 51/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Christopher Newport University trails the majority of Chemistry programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 →