Chemistry at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento State's chemistry program sits in an interesting middle ground: graduates start at the national median but trail other California programs by about $1,200 annually. Among California chemistry programs, this ranks around the 40th percentile—meaning roughly six in ten chemistry graduates at other in-state schools earn more right out of college. The gap widens when comparing to top CSU programs like Long Beach ($50,553) or San Marcos ($49,382), where graduates earn $8,000-10,000 more annually.

The encouraging news is debt management and growth trajectory. At $27,749, graduates here carry about $11,000 more debt than the California median but still maintain a healthy 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio. More importantly, earnings jump 53% by year four to $65,212, suggesting chemistry graduates find their footing in California's competitive market after initial job placement. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, the program serves students who might not access higher-ranked alternatives.

The caveat: these figures come from a small sample (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes may vary more than typical. For families weighing cost against California chemistry options, Sacramento State offers a path to solid mid-career earnings with manageable debt, though students should expect to work harder initially to catch up to peers from higher-ranked programs. The 94% admission rate makes it accessible, but accessing those stronger year-four earnings likely requires persistence through those leaner first years.