U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 24% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,600.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,265. College Scorecard.
Chemistry at California colleges
Every California college we cover that reports Chemistry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | $82,386 | $11,172 | $13,481 | 93% |
| 2 | California State University-Northridge | $79,878 | — | $7,021 | 57% |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego | $77,249 | $16,100 | $12,470 | 86% |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine | $74,810 | $13,276 | $14,251 | 87% |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara | $74,713 | $15,805 | $16,109 | 83% |
| 6 | San Diego State University | $74,676 | $17,499 | $15,364 | 76% |
| 7 | California State University-Sacramento | $74,430 | $27,749 | $9,338 | 56% |
| 8 | California State University-Stanislaus | $73,392 | — | $6,067 | 53% |
| 9 | University of California-Davis | $73,365 | $14,000 | $14,741 | 86% |
| 10 | University of California-Los Angeles | $72,220 | $14,137 | $12,548 | 93% |
| 11 | University of California-Santa Cruz | $71,348 | $15,000 | $17,890 | 75% |
| 12 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $70,741 | $23,750 | $11,531 | 68% |
| 13 | California State University-Long Beach | $67,818 | $15,680 | $10,440 | 69% |
| 14 | California State University-Fullerton | $64,857 | $18,675 | $6,555 | 70% |
| 15 | University of California-Riverside | $64,131 | $21,750 | $14,304 | 76% |
| 16 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $63,882 | $15,259 | $16,665 | 86% |
| 17 | California State University-San Bernardino | $63,496 | $16,553 | $4,564 | 55% |
| 18 | California State University-Channel Islands | $58,498 | $21,375 | $9,849 | 51% |
| 19 | University of California-Merced | $56,888 | $15,000 | $11,983 | 69% |
| 20 | University of Southern California | $54,966 | — | $32,740 | 92% |
| 21 | California State University-Los Angeles | $51,747 | $11,000 | $3,967 | 53% |
| 22 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | $50,579 | $24,000 | $13,171 | 49% |
| 23 | California State University-Fresno | $45,522 | $17,500 | $7,000 | 57% |
40 more California colleges offer Chemistry but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Chemistry graduates
Chemist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance rate: 31% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $90,768
- Full cost breakdown · all 77 majors · overview
Related majors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Biology$69,854
- Biochemistry$78,097
- Physics$96,805
- Geology / Earth Science$69,227
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Chemistry questions
How much do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earn a median $63,882 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $15,259, about 24% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Where does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo rank for Chemistry in California?
Of 23 California colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks 16th. The highest is University of California-Berkeley at $82,386.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $86,060 in the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA area and $91,240 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and data scientists.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
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Cite this: “California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).