Chemistry: Bridgewater State University vs Fort Hays State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
14.1x
$45,556 tuition
18.8x
$22,532 tuition
Out-of-State
9.1x
$70,116 tuition
6.3x
$67,244 tuition
$55,376/yr starting · Public
$44,261/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Bridgewater State University Fort Hays State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.1x 18.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.1x 6.3x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $45,556 $22,532
Year 1 Earnings $55,376 $44,261
10-Year Earnings $641K $424K
Median Debt $27,000 $30,689
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.9 months 8.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 77/100 76/100
Acceptance Rate 89.2% 91.8%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Chemistry graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Chemistry graduates.

Bridgewater State University Fort Hays State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $45,556 $22,532
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $70,116 $67,244
10-Year Projected Earnings $641K $424K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.1x 18.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.1x 6.3x
5-Year Salary Growth +50% +5%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Chemistry (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Bridgewater State University Fort Hays State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $908K $641K $416K $468K $424K $332K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 19.9x 14.1x 9.1x 20.8x 18.8x 14.7x
DegreeWorth Score 79 77 70 75 76 70

For the full AI analysis of Chemistry career paths, see the Bridgewater State University or Fort Hays State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Chemistry graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$23,024
Fort Hays State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$11,115/yr
Bridgewater State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
14.1x / 18.8x
Out-of-state: 9.1x / 6.3x

Career Paths

Chemistry graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Natural sciences managers $161,180 8,500 +3.7% 50%
Computer and information research scientists $140,910 3,200 +19.7% 63%
Data scientists $112,590 23,400 +33.5% 64%
Computer occupations, all other $108,970 31,300 +8.2% 57%
Physics teachers, postsecondary $97,360 1,300 +2.5% 42%
Environmental science teachers, postsecondary $87,710 700 +2.9% 52%
Chemistry teachers, postsecondary $86,220 1,900 +2.2% 43%
Chemists $84,150 6,300 +4.9% 38%

Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chemistry: Bridgewater State University or Fort Hays State University?
Bridgewater State University scores 77/100 while Fort Hays State University scores 76/100. Fort Hays State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Chemistry?
Bridgewater State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 14.1x vs Fort Hays State University's 18.8x. That means Fort Hays State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $23,024 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Bridgewater State University and Fort Hays State University compare on Chemistry earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $55,376 at Bridgewater State University vs $44,261 at Fort Hays State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $640,558 vs $423,641 — a difference of $216,917.
How much does Chemistry cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $45,556 at Bridgewater State University and $22,532 at Fort Hays State University. Median debt at graduation is $27,000 vs $30,689. Both programs lead to the same Chemistry career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.