Chemical Engineeringat University of Maryland-College Park
Graduates earn $81,777/yr in their first year — about 13.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $824K; scenarios range from $716K to $860K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Maryland-College Park
First-year earnings of $81,777 at University of Maryland-College Park come in 13% above the national median of $72,288 for Chemical Engineering programs.
With a 17.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $81,777 far exceeding the $22,281 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
University of Maryland-College Park ranks #23 among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The limited growth from $81,777 to $92,423 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 Maryland-College Park'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 Maryland-College Park stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Maryland-College Park
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Maryland-College Park, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park
What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at University of Maryland-College Park?
At 74/100, 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 Maryland-College Park?
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 Maryland-College Park one of the best schools for Chemical Engineering?
Among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Maryland-College Park's #23 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.