Chemical Engineeringat California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Graduates earn $69,009/yr in their first year — about 5.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $968K; scenarios range from $822K to $1,020K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal Poly Pomona
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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal Poly Pomona's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Chemical Engineering
How Cal Poly Pomona stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal Poly Pomona
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal Poly Pomona, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Cal Poly Pomona
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.