Chemical Engineeringat University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Graduates earn $82,372/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $827K; scenarios range from $718K to $864K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Cincinnati
At $82,372 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Cincinnati-Main Campus earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemical Engineering programs nationally.
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 17% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $21,083 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #53 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $92,906 are relatively flat compared to the $82,372 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 University of Cincinnati'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 University of Cincinnati stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Cincinnati
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Cincinnati, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Cincinnati
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus?
This program scores 72/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Chemical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
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 $718,288 in decade earnings vs $863,605 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.