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Chemistry at West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,891/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 21.4x earnings multiple (8.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #83 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 $702K $690K $607K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.8x 21.4x 18.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.6x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 60 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,256
Out-of-state: $80,480 (8.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,828
-23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,142
93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,891/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 21.4x 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.

The $24,000 debt-to-$36,891 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #83 out of 205 programs, West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Chemistry offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,891 to $71,142 over five years (93% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About West Virginia University Institute of Technology

A 61% admission rate makes West Virginia University Institute of Technology accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 1,009 in Beckley, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University Institute of Technology →

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 West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,662) Computer Engineering ($76,314) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($72,210) Mechanical Engineering ($71,504) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,298) Chemical Engineering ($69,875) Civil Engineering ($67,062) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($65,223)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Chemistry trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 60/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →