Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $34,512/yr fall 16% below the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.3x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $20,025 represents roughly 7 months of the $34,512 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #96 of 205 Chemistry programs, Eastern Kentucky University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $82,608 show a 139% jump from the $34,512 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.