Chemical Engineeringat North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Graduates earn $81,492/yr in their first year — about 13.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $928K; scenarios range from $792K to $975K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at NC State
NC State’s Chemical Engineering program consistently outperforms due to its prime location within the Research Triangle Park. This region is a hotbed for pharmaceutical, biotech, and advanced materials companies like GSK, Biogen, and BASF, creating an incredibly robust local labor market and extensive internship opportunities for graduates. The program's strong industry connections mean curricula are often aligned with current employer needs, preparing you for immediate impact in roles spanning process optimization, R&D, and even project management. While automation is changing the field, your foundational problem-solving skills and the program's emphasis on complex systems position you well for adaptability. To maximize your outcome, actively pursue internships and engage with the university's strong corporate recruitment pipelines; these connections are invaluable for securing high-level roles and navigating career progression in this dynamic industry.
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 NC State'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 NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at NC State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at NC State
How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh'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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh rank so high for Chemical Engineering?
The #3 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.