Chemical Engineeringat South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduates earn $72,785/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $939K; scenarios range from $800K to $987K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduates earn $72,785/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 22.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $72,785 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranks #28 among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 40% earnings increase from $72,785 to $102,160 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology'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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Other highest-scoring programs offered at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Chemical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?
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.
Is South Dakota School of Mines and Technology one of the best schools for Chemical Engineering?
Among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.