Program Analysis
At $71,618/yr, Chemical Engineering graduates from Oregon State University land near the $72,288 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.3x 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 $24,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #71 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, Oregon State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $71,618 to $95,971 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.