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Chemistry at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,197/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 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 $730K $715K $625K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 11.9x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 3.9x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 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)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (3.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,805
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,458
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $47,197 at University of California-Santa Barbara come in 14% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

The 11.9x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $47,197 far exceeding the $15,805 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #27 out of 205 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $47,197 to $79,458 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara accepts 28% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

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 University of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

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 University of California-Santa Barbara'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 University of California-Santa Barbara rank so high for Chemistry?
The #27 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 →