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Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,513/yr (10% 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 #73 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	$657K	$647K	$576K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.5x	9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.4x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	57%	54%	38%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	61	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)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,875

6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$70,473

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,513 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University come in 10% above the national median of $41,256 for Chemistry programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,875 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,513 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #73 of 205 Chemistry programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $70,473 show a 55% jump from the $45,513 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

A 57% admission rate makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 30,435 in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and 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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

A score of 61/100 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 $576,136 in decade earnings vs $657,162 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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