Program Analysis
Graduates earn $62,468/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 18.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $62,468 far exceeding the $20,549 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #75 ranking among 158 Chemical Engineering programs places Colorado State University-Fort Collins in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $62,468-to-$97,269 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.