Chemical Engineering: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs University of Florida

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
In-State
26.2x
$29,756 tuition
34.3x
$25,524 tuition
Out-of-State
10.1x
$77,276 tuition
7.6x
$114,636 tuition
$69,009/yr starting · Public
$87,164/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona University of Florida
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.2x 34.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.1x 7.6x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,756 $25,524
Year 1 Earnings $69,009 $87,164
10-Year Earnings $781K $875K
Median Debt $21,322 $19,600
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.7 months 2.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 71/100 74/100
Acceptance Rate 73.7% 24.0%

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.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona University of Florida
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,756 $25,524
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $77,276 $114,636
10-Year Projected Earnings $781K $875K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.2x 34.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.1x 7.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +50% +20%

"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.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona University of Florida
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,138K $781K $512K $1,080K $875K $647K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 38.2x 26.2x 17.2x 42.3x 34.3x 25.4x
DegreeWorth Score 74 71 65 77 74 68

For the full AI analysis of Chemical Engineering career paths, see the California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or University of Florida program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$4,232
University of Florida saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$18,155/yr
University of Florida grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
26.2x / 34.3x
Out-of-state: 10.1x / 7.6x

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%

Explore Each Program

More Chemical Engineering Comparisons

Chemical Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chemical Engineering: California State Polytechnic University-Pomona or University of Florida?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona scores 71/100 while University of Florida scores 74/100. University of Florida 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?
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona has an in-state earnings multiple of 26.2x vs University of Florida's 34.3x. That means University of Florida grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and University of Florida compare on Chemical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $69,009 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs $87,164 at University of Florida. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $781,006 vs $874,585 — a difference of $93,579.
How much does Chemical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $29,756 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and $25,524 at University of Florida. Median debt at graduation is $21,322 vs $19,600. 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.