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Engineering · Chemical Engineering Rank #5 of 158

Chemical Engineeringat University of Houston

Graduates earn $84,468/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $880K; scenarios range from $757K to $921K depending on AI disruption.

Houston, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
76 STRONG
77
Optimistic
73
Pessimistic
Earnings
$84,468
1-year post-graduation
ROI
24.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$880K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Houston

Your investment in Chemical Engineering at the University of Houston is uniquely bolstered by its prime location. Houston is a global epicenter for the energy, petrochemical, and refining industries, creating an insatiable demand for skilled chemical engineers. This regional dynamism means you'll find unparalleled internship opportunities and a direct pipeline to major employers like ExxonMobil, Shell, and Dow, often leading to robust starting salaries right out of the gate.

The program's strong national standing reflects its deep industry connections and the quality of its faculty, ensuring your education is highly relevant to current market needs. While automation poses a future risk, your role will likely evolve towards system design, optimization, and project management rather than routine operations. To thrive, focus on securing multiple co-ops and internships, building a network that leverages Houston's vast industrial landscape, and developing skills in data analytics and process innovation.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$757K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple19.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$880K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple22.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$921K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score77/100
Earnings Multiple23.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Houston's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Chemical engineers
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$121,860/yr
Moderate
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$106,950/yr
High
5
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemical Engineering

How University of Houston stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
4.1x
ROI
Same state (TX)
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
22.7x
ROI
Top score
Lamar University
TX · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
30.8x
ROI
University of Florida
FL · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
40.0x
ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
22.6x
ROI
Also at University of Houston

Other top programs at University of Houston

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Houston, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Houston

What does a 76/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at University of Houston?

At 76/100, 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 University of Houston?

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 Houston one of the best schools for Chemical Engineering?

Among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Houston's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.