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Chemistry at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,660/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #32 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 25%

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	$758K	$742K	$645K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.7x	14.4x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	64	62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,584

Out-of-state: $135,004 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,328

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,180

88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,660/yr, Chemistry graduates from Colorado State University-Fort Collins land near the $41,256 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.4x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $16,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #32 out of 205 programs, Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $42,660 to $80,180 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Colorado State University-Fort Collins

With 90% of applicants admitted, Colorado State University-Fort Collins prioritizes broad access, with 25,148 students enrolled in Fort Collins, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Colorado State University-Fort Collins →

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins

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 Colorado State University-Fort Collins's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 64/100, 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.

Why does Colorado State University-Fort Collins rank so high for Chemistry?

The #32 ranking out of 205 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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