Chemical Engineeringat University of South Florida
Graduates earn $70,659/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $771K; scenarios range from $677K to $801K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Florida
At $70,659/yr, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of South Florida land near the $72,288 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 30.1x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $23,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #32 of 158 nationally, this is a top-5% Chemical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $84,431 are relatively flat compared to the $70,659 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 Florida'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 Florida stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Florida
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Florida, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of South Florida
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of South Florida?
This program scores 73/100 — 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 $676,925 in decade earnings vs $801,285 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of South Florida's Chemical Engineering program stand out?
Ranked #32 of 158 programs nationally, University of South Florida lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.