Chemical Engineering: Lamar University vs Purdue University-Main Campus
Head-to-Head
| Lamar University | Purdue University-Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.2x | 21.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 13.3x | 7.4x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $34,760 | $39,968 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $87,284 | $81,105 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $981K | $848K |
| Median Debt | $19,500 | $21,500 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 2.7 months | 3.2 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 70/100 | 68/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 85.7% | 50.3% |
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.
| Lamar University | Purdue University-Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $34,760 | $39,968 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $73,928 | $115,176 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $981K | $848K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.2x | 21.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 13.3x | 7.4x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +27% | +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.
| Lamar University | Purdue University-Main Campus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $1,034K | $981K | $831K | $887K | $848K | $734K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 29.7x | 28.2x | 23.9x | 22.2x | 21.2x | 18.4x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 72 | 70 | 65 | 70 | 68 | 62 |
For the full AI analysis of Chemical Engineering career paths, see the Lamar University or Purdue University-Main Campus program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Chemical Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
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% |