Chemistry Degree in Columbus, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemistry degree analysis for Columbus, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$72K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.7 yrs
in Columbus
Cost of Living
84.5
index (100 = avg)
Chemistry in Columbus, GA Overview
Columbus, Georgia (pop. 206,922) has 8 colleges offering Chemistry programs. The local cost of living index of 84.5 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $525/month. 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 Columbus is approximately $46,475, growing to $71,825 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$9,800/yr
Private Tuition
$32,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,183/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,227/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
75%
Chemistry Salary in Columbus (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbus's cost of living index of 84.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemistry salary: $55,000 starting, $85,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Columbus adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemistry ROI Calculator for Columbus
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemistry degree using local Columbus tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,800 | Private avg: $32,000
Columbus avg aid: $10,227/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,932
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,900
vs HS diploma in Columbus
ROI Payback Period
5.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbus
$368,818
Lifetime earnings premium ($464,750) minus total education cost ($95,932)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemistry in Columbus
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbus for Chemistry
Columbus State University
public
$10,056/yr
$40,224 total
University of Columbus
public
$10,212/yr
$40,848 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbus Community College
$5,412/yr
Georgia Technical College - Columbus
$5,084/yr
Top Employers for Chemistry in Columbus
Columbus offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Chemistry graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbus Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Chemistry Job Titles
Chemistry in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$56K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Augusta, GA
$46K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$56K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$52K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$57K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$62K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$60K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$62K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Columbus
Prompt Engineering
$42K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$72K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$74K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemistry Degree in Columbus — 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 Columbus.