Chemical Engineeringat University of South Alabama
Graduates earn $71,116/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $804K; scenarios range from $701K to $837K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Alabama
First-year earnings of $71,116 track close to the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.8x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
At $20,116 in median debt against $71,116 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #47 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of South Alabama scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $71,116 to $88,027 over five years — a 24% 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 South Alabama'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 South Alabama stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Alabama
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Alabama, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of South Alabama
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of South Alabama?
This program scores 72/100 — 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 $700,957 in decade earnings vs $837,492 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.