Chemical Engineeringat University of Kansas
Graduates earn $63,870/yr in their first year — about 12.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $808K; scenarios range from $704K to $842K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Kansas
At $63,870/yr, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Kansas land near the $72,288 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.3x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $20,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #86 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Kansas falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $63,870 to $86,557 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 Kansas'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 Kansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Kansas
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Kansas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Kansas
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Kansas?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $704,182 in decade earnings vs $842,355 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.