Chemical Engineeringat Syracuse University
Graduates earn $72,864/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $745K; scenarios range from $658K to $773K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Syracuse University
At $72,864/yr, Chemical Engineering graduates from Syracuse University land near the $72,288 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 15% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #157 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, Syracuse University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
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 Syracuse 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 Syracuse University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Syracuse University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Syracuse University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $657,901 in decade earnings vs $772,620 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.