Chemistry

Bachelor's degree · University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA

CIP 40.05

$45,310Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$77,249Median earnings 4 years after
$83,272Median earnings 5 years after
$16,050Median federal debt
227Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Chemistry at University of California-San Diego earn a median of $45,310 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $65,120 four years after graduating (middle half: $48,307–$84,018). Median debt is $16,050, about 35% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.

Chemistry (Bachelor's degree) at other California schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley
$59,576$11,077
University of California-Merced
Merced
$50,944$14,500
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach
$50,553$12,430
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos
$49,382—
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara
$47,197$15,805
California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo
$46,131$21,250
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton
$45,076$17,377
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$44,944—
California State University-Northridge
Northridge
$44,874—
San Francisco State University
San Francisco
$44,140—
University of California-Irvine
Irvine
$43,766$13,000
San Diego State University
San Diego
$43,603$17,999
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona
$43,294$23,333
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento
$42,581$26,263
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$42,358$11,000

Highest-paying Chemistry programs nationwide →

Other programs at University of California-San Diego

Frequently asked questions

How much do Chemistry graduates from University of California-San Diego make?

The median salary is $45,310 one year after graduation and $83,272 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $16,050.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.