Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University vs University of Houston

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Houston
Houston, TX
In-State
38.5x
$25,984 tuition
22.6x
$38,844 tuition
Out-of-State
38.5x
$25,984 tuition
9.9x
$88,764 tuition
$1,000,537 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$879,567 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University University of Houston
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 38.5x 22.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 38.5x 9.9x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $38,844
Year 1 Earnings $77,565 $84,468
10-Year Earnings $1,001K $880K
Median Debt $14,680 $19,228
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.3 months 2.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 69/100 69/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 69.5%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (48% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Chemical Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

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

Brigham Young University University of Houston
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $38,844
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $88,764
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,001K $880K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 38.5x 22.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 38.5x 9.9x
5-Year Salary Growth +41% +17%

"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 Chemical Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University University of Houston
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,055K $1,001K $846K $921K $880K $757K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 40.6x 38.5x 32.5x 23.7x 22.6x 19.5x
DegreeWorth Score 72 69 65 71 69 63

For the full AI analysis of Chemical Engineering career paths, see the Brigham Young University or University of Houston program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$12,860
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$6,903/yr
University of Houston grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
38.5x / 22.6x
Out-of-state: 38.5x / 9.9x

Career Paths

Chemical Engineering 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
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Chemical engineers $121,860 1,100 +2.6% 46%
Engineers, all other $117,750 9,300 +2.1% 46%
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950 1,300 +5.2% 59%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Chemical Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University or University of Houston?
Brigham Young University scores 69/100 while University of Houston scores 69/100. Brigham Young 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 Chemical Engineering?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 38.5x vs University of Houston's 22.6x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and University of Houston compare on Chemical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $77,565 at Brigham Young University vs $84,468 at University of Houston. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,000,537 vs $879,567 — a difference of $120,970.
How much does Chemical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $38,844 at University of Houston. Median debt at graduation is $14,680 vs $19,228. Both programs lead to the same Chemical Engineering 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.