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Chemistry at University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $50,944/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #56 of 205 Chemistry programs Top 50%

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	$593K	$587K	$533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.5x	10.4x	9.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	62	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,668

Out-of-state: $179,776 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,976

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,500

3.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,086

26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $50,944/yr, edging above the $41,256 national average for Chemistry — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $14,500 in median debt against $50,944 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #56 of 205 Chemistry programs, University of California-Merced scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $50,944 to $64,086 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced admits 39% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Merced →

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 University of California-Merced

Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at University of California-Merced?

A score of 62/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Chemistry field.

Will AI replace Chemistry careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $532,655 in decade earnings vs $592,806 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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