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Engineering · Chemical Engineering Rank #120 of 158

Chemical Engineeringat University of Notre Dame

Graduates earn $83,377/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,016K; scenarios range from $857K to $1,073K depending on AI disruption.

Notre Dame, IN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
63 SOLID
64
Optimistic
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$83,377
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,016K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Notre Dame

Your strong earnings potential from Notre Dame's Chemical Engineering program reflects its rigorous curriculum and the university's national reputation. This isn't just about technical skills; it's about the problem-solving acumen and systems thinking instilled, which are highly valued across industries. Graduates often find themselves in diverse roles, from process optimization in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals to developing new materials in high-tech energy and even strategic consulting, frequently with companies that specifically target elite engineering talent. The program's robust alumni network also opens significant doors, facilitating strong recruitment pipelines into leading firms. While emerging AI technologies will undoubtedly reshape some tasks, the foundational engineering principles and adaptability you'll gain are crucial for navigating these shifts. To maximize your opportunities, aggressively pursue internships each summer to refine your interests and build a professional network before graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$857K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,016K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,073K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple4.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Notre Dame's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Chemical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Chemical engineers
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$121,860/yr
Moderate
3
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
4
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers
+5.2% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$106,950/yr
High
5
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Chemical Engineering

How University of Notre Dame stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Rice University
TX · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
4.1x
ROI
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
22.7x
ROI
Top score
Lamar University
TX · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
30.8x
ROI
University of Florida
FL · Public
77
DW Score
$87K
1-yr earn
40.0x
ROI
Texas A & M University-College Station
TX · Public
76
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
22.6x
ROI
Also at University of Notre Dame

Other top programs at University of Notre Dame

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Notre Dame, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Notre Dame

What does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Chemical Engineering at University of Notre Dame?

At 63/100, the score looks reasonable — but Chemical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Chemical Engineering at University of Notre Dame?

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.

What do students actually pay for Chemical Engineering at University of Notre Dame?

The 56% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $250,772. At a net cost of $111,292, the earnings multiple improves substantially.