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Chemical Engineering at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,450/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 21.7x earnings multiple (10.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #90 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs

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 $652K $637K $578K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.2x 21.7x 19.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.7x 10.4x 9.4x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (10.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,626
2% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

CUNY City College's Chemical Engineering program produces graduates earning $67,450/yr — within striking distance of the $72,288 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Chemical Engineering's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #90 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, CUNY City College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $68,626 are relatively flat compared to the $67,450 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About CUNY City College

CUNY City College's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 11,934 students in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

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)

Other Majors at CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711) Physics ($48,908)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at CUNY City College?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Chemical Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $577,913 in decade earnings vs $652,105 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is CUNY City College a hidden gem for Chemical Engineering?
After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below the $29,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →