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Chemistry at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,589/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #125 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 $571K $567K $518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.5x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.4x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,436
-34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,962
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,622
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Chemistry program produces graduates earning $41,589/yr — within striking distance of the $41,256 national average for this field.

The 10.5x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,962 in median debt clears quickly against $41,589 in annual earnings.

At #125 out of 205 programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,589 to $58,622 shows 41% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's 46% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 28,763 students in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

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

Compare this program → View all 205 schools offering Chemistry →

Chemistry at Other Schools

Northeastern University ($62,511) University of California-Berkeley ($59,576) Montclair State University ($55,389) Bridgewater State University ($55,376) University of Delaware ($54,055) Rowan University ($53,607) Towson University ($52,765) State University of New York at Oswego ($52,645)

Other Majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Chemical Engineering ($76,302) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,316) Computer Engineering ($74,085) Industrial Engineering ($73,822) Nuclear Engineering ($73,724) Computer Science ($70,193) Mechanical Engineering ($65,756) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,298)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Chemistry program score?
A score of 54/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The University of Tennessee-Knoxville 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 →