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Chemistry at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,603/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 18.9x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #28 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	$635K	$626K	$561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.1x	18.9x	16.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.9x	7.8x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,160

Out-of-state: $80,680 (7.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,696

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,999

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$67,059

54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,603 at San Diego State University come in 6% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

The 18.9x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $43,603 far exceeding the $17,999 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #28 out of 205 programs, San Diego State University's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $43,603 to $67,059 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University accepts 34% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 33,654 students in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State 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 San Diego State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does San Diego State University's Chemistry program score?

This program scores 65/100, 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 San Diego State University rank so high for Chemistry?

The #28 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 →