Chemical Engineeringat Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduates earn $80,139/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,150K; scenarios range from $956K to $1,221K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at MIT
Studying Chemical Engineering at MIT positions you within an unparalleled ecosystem. Your strong foundational training in core sciences and advanced engineering principles, combined with access to world-class research facilities and faculty, makes you highly sought after. The robust biotech, pharma, and advanced manufacturing sectors in the Greater Boston area, alongside leading national and international firms, actively recruit from MIT, contributing to exceptional early-career outcomes. This isn't just about traditional chemical plant roles; you'll find graduates innovating in areas like sustainable energy, materials science, and biomedical applications, often transitioning into management or R&D leadership positions rapidly.
While AI risk is a significant consideration for many engineering fields, your MIT education emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving over routine tasks. To thrive, focus on developing strong computational skills and interdisciplinary expertise in areas like data science or machine learning, which will be crucial for navigating an evolving job market.
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 MIT'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 MIT stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at MIT
Other highest-scoring programs offered at MIT, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at MIT
How does Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Massachusetts Institute of Technology trails the majority of Chemical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
How affordable is Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology after financial aid?
Sticker price is $240,624, but the average net cost is $79,252 — a 67% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.