Polymer Engineeringat University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Graduates earn $77,114/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Polymer Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $836K; scenarios range from $724K to $868K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Your decision to pursue Polymer/Plastics Engineering at UMass Lowell places you in a unique position. As one of only a handful of programs nationally, you'll benefit from a highly specialized curriculum and direct recruitment pipelines from leading companies. The university has a long-standing reputation in this field, deeply rooted in the region's strong manufacturing and innovation economy, particularly in medical devices, aerospace, and advanced materials. Graduates are highly sought after by firms like MilliporeSigma, Boston Scientific, and Raytheon for roles in R&D, process optimization, and new product development. While the field offers excellent early career prospects, the evolving landscape with AI suggests that foundational engineering tasks may become automated. Therefore, actively seek out internships that emphasize complex problem-solving, project management, and interdisciplinary collaboration to future-proof your 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 Massachusetts-Lowell'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 Polymer Engineering
How University of Massachusetts-Lowell stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Massachusetts-Lowell, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Polymer Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Lowell
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Polymer Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Lowell?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Polymer Engineering field.
Will AI replace Polymer Engineering careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $724,329 in decade earnings vs $868,264 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Massachusetts-Lowell's Polymer Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #1 of 4 programs nationally, University of Massachusetts-Lowell lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.