Chemical Engineeringat Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Graduates earn $67,777/yr in their first year — about 6.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $913K; scenarios range from $781K to $958K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Rutgers
At $67,777/yr, Chemical Engineering graduates from Rutgers University-New Brunswick land near the $72,288 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
With a 13.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $21,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #100 ranking among 158 Chemical Engineering programs places Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 45% earnings increase from $67,777 to $97,993 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Rutgers'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 Rutgers stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Rutgers
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Rutgers, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Rutgers
What does a 68/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
At 68/100, the score looks reasonable — but Chemical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Chemical Engineering at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.