Chemistry Degree in Colorado Springs, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Colorado Springs, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Colorado Springs, CO Overview
Colorado Springs is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 22,576. Public tuition averages $5,325/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Chemistry has been declining, graduates with skills in Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Colorado Springs is approximately $67,100, growing to $103,700 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$5,325/yr
Private Tuition
$62,070/yr
Room & Board
$15,455/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,479/yr
Unemployment
5%
Graduation Rate
71%
Chemistry Salary in Colorado Springs (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Colorado Springs's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Colorado Springs adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Colorado Springs
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Colorado Springs tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,325 | Private avg: $62,070
Colorado Springs avg aid: $13,479/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$83,120
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,400
vs HS diploma in Colorado Springs
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Colorado Springs
$587,880
Lifetime earnings premium ($671,000) minus total education cost ($83,120)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Colorado Springs
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Colorado Springs for Chemistry
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
public
$10,650/yr
$42,600 total
Colorado College
private
$62,070/yr
$248,280 total
United States Air Force Academy
public
$0/yr
$0 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pikes Peak State College
$4,056/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Colorado Springs Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$70K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Aurora, CO
$61K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$69K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$58K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$56K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$58K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$57K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$67K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Colorado Springs
Prompt Engineering
$61K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$116K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$104K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$107K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$100K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$98K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Colorado Springs — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Chemistry ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Colorado Springs.