Chemical Engineeringat University of Rochester
Graduates earn $71,028/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $977K; scenarios range from $828K to $1,029K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Rochester
Graduates earn $71,028/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.
AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $71,028 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #142 out of 158 programs, University of Rochester's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,028 to $105,189 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary 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 Rochester'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 Rochester stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Rochester
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Rochester, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Rochester
How does University of Rochester's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Rochester trails the majority of Chemical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Chemical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Chemical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Chemical Engineering at University of Rochester after financial aid?
Sticker price is $257,392, but the average net cost is $120,992 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.