Program Analysis
At $76,302 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from The University of Tennessee-Knoxville earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The 14.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $21,295 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #73 out of 158 programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Chemical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $76,302 to $89,398 over five years (17% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.