Chemistry at William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,130/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (169,700 openings/yr)
ROI 7.9x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #157 of 205 Chemistry programs

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 $812K $793K $681K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.1x 7.9x 6.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 57% 54% 38%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$100,160
Out-of-state: $197,648 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$90,116
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,033
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,208
128% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,130/yr, roughly in line with the $41,256 national median for Chemistry. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 7.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,033 debt-to-$35,130 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #157 out of 205 programs, William & Mary's financial outcomes for Chemistry trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $35,130 to $80,208 over five years (128% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About William & Mary

William & Mary accepts 33% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, enrolling 6,949 students in Williamsburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at William & Mary →

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

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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

How does William & Mary's Chemistry program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Chemistry. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 →