Chemical Engineeringat Montana State University
Graduates earn $62,206/yr in their first year — about 14.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $772K; scenarios range from $678K to $802K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Montana State University
Montana State University's Chemical Engineering program produces graduates earning $62,206/yr — within striking distance of the $72,288 national average for this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 23.9x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,000 in median debt clears quickly against $62,206 in annual earnings.
At #78 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, Montana State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $62,206 to $82,446 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Montana State University'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 Montana State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Montana State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Montana State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Montana State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at Montana State University?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $677,572 in decade earnings vs $802,262 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.