Chemical Engineeringat University of California-San Diego
Graduates earn $59,508/yr in their first year — about 18.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $948K; scenarios range from $807K to $997K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC San Diego
At $59,508 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California-San Diego earn below the $72,288 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
With a 15.5x 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.
The median debt load of $18,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #98 ranking among 158 Chemical Engineering programs places University of California-San Diego in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The $59,508-to-$97,911 earnings arc over five years reflects a 65% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
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 UC San Diego'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 UC San Diego stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC San Diego
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC San Diego, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at UC San Diego
What does a 68/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at University of California-San Diego?
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 University of California-San Diego?
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 University of California-San Diego a good choice for Chemical Engineering despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If University of California-San Diego's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.