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Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,440/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Chemical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,032K $979K $830K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.1x 15.3x 13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.1x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 72 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,016
Out-of-state: $138,004 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,804
5% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,470
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$107,589
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $77,440/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.3x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,470 in median debt clears quickly against $77,440 in annual earnings.

At #49 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $77,440 to $107,589 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's 44% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 34,623 students enrolled in Champaign, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Chemical engineers $121,860/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 158 schools offering Chemical Engineering →

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

Rice University ($87,830) The University of Texas at Austin ($87,365) Lamar University ($87,284) University of Florida ($87,164) Texas A & M University-College Station ($86,176) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($85,945) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($85,847) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($85,772)

Other Majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer Science ($124,530) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($113,503) Mathematics and Computer Science ($109,843) Computer Engineering ($103,123) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($86,483) Systems Engineering ($81,785) Nuclear Engineering ($81,134) Mechanical Engineering ($80,187)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
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 $829,925 in decade earnings vs $1,031,808 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →