Chemical Engineeringat University of Idaho
Graduates earn $75,915/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $776K; scenarios range from $681K to $807K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Idaho
University of Idaho's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $75,915/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.0x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $75,915 in annual earnings.
At #33 of 158 nationally, this is a top-5% Chemical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $86,046 are relatively flat compared to the $75,915 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 Idaho'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 Idaho stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Idaho
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Idaho, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Idaho
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Idaho?
This program scores 73/100 — 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 $680,825 in decade earnings vs $807,161 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Idaho's Chemical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #33 of 158 programs nationally, University of Idaho lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.