Chemical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $85,847/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 19.1x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #12 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $945K $901K $772K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.1x 19.1x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 6.9x 5.9x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 75 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)
$47,056
Out-of-state: $131,504 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,156
-13% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$101,692
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $85,847 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.1x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $26,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #12 of 158 programs, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's Chemical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $101,692 are relatively flat compared to the $85,847 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

A 16% acceptance rate puts Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 18,260 in Atlanta, GA.

See all programs and financial aid at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus →

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

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Chemical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $772,358 in decade earnings vs $945,073 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →