Chemical Engineeringat Oregon State University
Graduates earn $71,618/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $880K; scenarios range from $757K to $922K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Oregon State University
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.
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 Oregon 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 Oregon State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Oregon State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Oregon State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University?
This program scores 71/100 — 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 $756,756 in decade earnings vs $921,563 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.