Chemistry at University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,473/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 19.8x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #33 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 $584K $578K $527K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.9x 19.8x 18.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.3x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 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)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,888
-166% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,400
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,124
37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,473 at University of North Carolina Wilmington come in 8% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

The 19.8x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $44,473 far exceeding the $16,400 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #33 out of 205 programs, University of North Carolina Wilmington's Chemistry program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,473 to $61,124 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of North Carolina Wilmington accepts 74% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina Wilmington's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 64/100, 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 North Carolina Wilmington rank so high for Chemistry?
The #33 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 →