What can you do with a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara?

First, some facts. Of the Chemistry graduates from UC Santa Barbara we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 46%, Chemistry graduates from UC Santa Barbara have a substantially lower likelihood (-21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 30% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Chemistry graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara?
• What do Chemistry graduates from UC Santa Barbara do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara?
• What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

View a random Chemistry graduate from UC Santa Barbara and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2015 from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Post-Baccalaureate Research Associate Harvard University Apr 2015 - Aug 2015 As a Post-Baccalaureate Research Associate at Harvard University, the role leverages the skills and knowledge gained from a Bachelor's in Chemistry, directly involving research activities relevant to the field. Teaching Fellow Harvard University 2016 - 2019 The position of Teaching Fellow at Harvard University utilizes specific knowledge in chemistry to teach and guide students, making it directly relevant to the Bachelor's degree. Post Doctorate Research Associate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - PNNL Jul 2020 - Nov 2022 As a Post Doctorate Research Associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - PNNL, this role applies advanced chemistry knowledge and skills developed during the Bachelor's program, thus being highly relevant. Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard University Nov 2022 - Present The Postdoctoral Fellow position at Harvard University is closely aligned with advanced research in chemistry, making it directly applicable to the Bachelor's in Chemistry. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Harvard University 2015 - 2020 Master of Arts - MA Harvard University 2015 - 2017 ABOUT Experienced research scientist with a demonstrated history of scientific excellence with strong verbal and written communication skills. Scientific expertise in heterogeneous catalysis, and physical chemistry. Well-versed in utilizing spectroscopies and microscopy for materials characterization and chemical analysis.

What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Validation Engineer
• Chemist
• Associate
• Software Engineer
• Full-stack Developer
• Quality Control Lab Assistant
• Barista
• Residential Camp Counselor | Nanoscience Outreach (CNSI)
• Graduate Intern
• Teacher | Program for Excellence in Education + Research in the Sciences (PEERS)

So, if you look at the careers of UC Santa Barbara grads with a degree in Chemistry, you'll notice a pretty mixed bag. A lot of them went straight into roles that really hit home with their chemistry knowledge, like Chemists at various labs. Those jobs really make sense because they involve direct application of what they learned in school. For instance, positions like Chemist II at California Laboratory Services and roles at analytical labs let them use their skills every day, which is pretty awesome. However, quite a few grads have ended up in jobs that are sort of tangential or even unrelated to chemistry, like data analysts, quality assurance specialists, and software engineers. These types of jobs don’t really tap into their chemistry background as much, which might be a bit of a bummer considering the effort it takes to earn that degree!

On the flip side, some of the roles, like teaching positions and some research associate jobs, do hold water in terms of relevance to chemistry, as they involve educating others or diving deeper into research, which is pretty cool. But, overall, the trend shows that while there are definitely some who are harnessing their chemistry expertise, a significant number of graduates find themselves in positions that don’t truly utilize their specialized knowledge. It just goes to show that having a chemistry degree can lead to a range of career paths, but not all of them will involve mixing beakers and analyzing compounds!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemistry graduates (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to UC Santa Barbara):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemistry graduates from UC Santa Barbara have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of UC Santa Barbara graduates with degrees in Chemistry, it seems that many of them start off in roles that are quite relevant to their field, particularly in the first few years after graduation. For instance, you'll find a lot of them taking on positions like Chemists or Analysts right after they finish their degree. Some even dive straight into research or quality assurance roles at labs and companies like TestAmerica, Vista Analytical, and others, which directly utilize their chemistry skills. This suggests that students from UC Santa Barbara are generally well-prepared for the workforce, and many find themselves in solid chemistry-related jobs shortly after graduation.

Fast forward a few years, and it's interesting to see how some graduates continue climbing the ladder in the science and tech fields, with many sticking to chemistry-related roles. However, there are also those who veer off the traditional path. For example, some have taken on teaching roles or transitioned into policy and advocacy, which might not seem directly linked to their chemistry background. Others have made a complete shift into tech-related jobs, like software engineering. Overall, while many graduates do find themselves well-placed in relevant careers, there's also a fair chunk who explore diverse paths, not always tied to the lab or chemistry per se. It’s a mixed bag, but it definitely highlights the adaptability of these graduates in various fields after their time at UC Santa Barbara!

How hard is a Chemistry degree from UC Santa Barbara?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at UC Santa Barbara is definitely challenging, but it’s not impossible if you're passionate about the subject. Chemistry can be pretty intense, with lots of lab work and complex concepts that build on one another, so you really need to stay on top of things and manage your time well. UCSB has a solid program with some amazing faculty, which is great but also means you’ll have to match their level of dedication. Overall, I’d say it's a bit on the harder side compared to some other majors, especially if you’re not super into science already, but if you’re curious and willing to put in the effort, it can also be really rewarding!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemistry.

Do Chemistry graduates from UC Santa Barbara tend to make good money?

So, looking at these UC Santa Barbara grads, it seems like they’ve had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making money. The folks who went into chemistry generally landed roles like chemists and quality assurance managers, which usually pay decently, especially as they advance in their careers—one person even hit a quality assurance manager position, which typically means a pretty solid paycheck! On the other hand, some of the grads who pursued teaching or research roles, especially early on, might not have made as much initially, as those positions can sometimes come with lower pay, especially in academia. The guy who became a software engineer likely raked in some good cash, as tech jobs are usually among the higher-paying gigs after graduation. Overall, it looks like a few of these graduates are set for decent salaries, while others may have to hustle a bit more to reach that financial comfort zone.

What buzzwords do Chemistry graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to UC Santa Barbara). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemistry graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of California, Santa Cruz	88	10
University of California, Davis	86	11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	85	19
Texas A&M University	83	11
Georgia State University	82	11
Purdue University	80	11
Virginia Commonwealth University	80	15
The Ohio State University	79	13
University of Pittsburgh	78	12
The University of Texas at Austin	76	15
Penn State University	75	11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	75	19
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	73	10
University of Wisconsin-Madison	70	12
University of Washington	67	15
Emory University	62	10
Florida International University	60	10
UC Santa Barbara	46	10
Texas Tech University	42	10