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Chemical Engineering at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,009/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 32.5x earnings multiple (12.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #19 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Chemical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,020K $968K $822K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 34.3x 32.5x 27.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 13.2x 12.5x 10.6x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,756
Out-of-state: $77,276 (12.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,320
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,322
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,640
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemical Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,009/yr — within striking distance of the $72,288 national average for this field.

The 32.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,322 in median debt clears quickly against $69,009 in annual earnings.

Ranked #19 out of 158 programs, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $69,009 to $103,640 over five years (50% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

A 74% acceptance rate means California State Polytechnic University-Pomona is accessible to most applicants, with 24,271 students enrolled in Pomona, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Chemical engineers $121,860/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 158 schools offering Chemical Engineering →

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

Rice University ($87,830) The University of Texas at Austin ($87,365) Lamar University ($87,284) University of Florida ($87,164) Texas A & M University-College Station ($86,176) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($85,945) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($85,847) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($85,772)

Compare Chemical Engineering

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs The University of Texas at Austin → California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs Lamar University → California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs University of Florida → California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs Texas A & M University-College Station → California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs University of Wisconsin-Madison → California State Polytechnic University-Pomona vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus →

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Construction Engineering Technologies ($87,960) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,827) Manufacturing Engineering ($79,549) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($78,320) Civil Engineering ($75,758) Industrial Engineering ($75,110) Mechanical Engineering ($75,040) Computer Engineering ($70,768)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's Chemical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Chemical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Chemical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does California State Polytechnic University-Pomona rank so high for Chemical Engineering?
The #19 ranking out of 158 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →