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Engineering · Chemical Engineering Rank #2 of 158

Chemical Engineeringat Lamar University

Graduates earn $87,284/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $981K; scenarios range from $831K to $1,034K depending on AI disruption.

Beaumont, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
77 STRONG
78
Optimistic
74
Pessimistic
Earnings
$87,284
1-year post-graduation
ROI
30.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$981K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Lamar University

Your success in Chemical Engineering from Lamar is deeply tied to its prime location in the heart of Texas's petrochemical corridor. This isn't just a convenient place to study; it's a direct pipeline to major employers. The university benefits from decades of strong relationships with industry giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips, and TotalEnergies, who regularly recruit for internships and full-time roles right on campus. This robust local demand and established recruiting infrastructure mean graduates are often hired directly into high-paying roles in refining, chemicals, and energy production. You'll find yourself contributing to critical processes, often starting as a process engineer or project engineer, with clear pathways to management or specialized technical roles. While the field is evolving with automation, your growth will hinge on developing higher-level problem-solving and management abilities that complement, rather than compete with, new technologies. Actively pursue co-ops or internships within these local firms; that direct industry experience is invaluable for understanding real-world operations and securing your first post-graduation role.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$831K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple23.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$981K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score77/100
Earnings Multiple28.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,034K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple29.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Lamar University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Chemical engineers
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$121,860/yr
Moderate
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$106,950/yr
High
5
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemical Engineering

How Lamar University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
4.1x
ROI
Same state (TX)
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
22.7x
ROI
Top score
University of Florida
FL · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
40.0x
ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
22.6x
ROI
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
GA · Public
75
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
20.6x
ROI
Also at Lamar University

Other top programs at Lamar University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lamar University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Lamar University

How does Lamar University's Chemical Engineering program score?

A score of 77/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Lamar University'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 Lamar University rank so high for Chemical Engineering?

The #2 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.