Chemical Engineeringat University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Graduates earn $73,245/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $927K; scenarios range from $791K to $974K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Minnesota
Graduates earn $73,245/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $73,245 far exceeding the $23,418 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #76 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $73,245 to $101,125 over five years — a 38% 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 Minnesota'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 Minnesota stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Minnesota
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Minnesota, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Minnesota
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
This program scores 70/100 — 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 $791,305 in decade earnings vs $973,619 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.