Chemistry at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's chemistry program shows surprisingly modest early outcomes given the school's selectivity, with recent graduates starting at $42,358—below the state median and in the 40th percentile among California chemistry programs. That places it behind not just UC Berkeley ($59,576) but also several Cal State campuses, including Long Beach and San Marcos. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these figures could fluctuate significantly year-to-year, and the data may not capture graduates heading to medical or graduate school, where many UCLA chemistry majors end up.

The financial picture offers one clear advantage: graduates leave with just $14,137 in debt, far below both state and national medians. This gives chemistry majors unusual flexibility to pursue lower-paying positions like research assistantships or to delay earnings while in graduate programs. The 41% earnings jump to nearly $60,000 by year four suggests that many graduates do find their footing, though this trajectory still lags behind top UC programs.

For families paying UCLA's premium—especially out-of-state students—the immediate return doesn't match the investment based on these numbers alone. The program makes most sense for students planning advanced degrees where UCLA's research opportunities and reputation matter more than first-job salary, or for California residents receiving substantial financial aid who can graduate with minimal debt.