Chemical Engineeringat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $85,772/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Chemical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,038K; scenarios range from $873K to $1,096K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
UVA's strong reputation and rigorous Chemical Engineering curriculum are key drivers for your post-graduation success. Employers actively recruit from this program, valuing the analytical and problem-solving skills honed here. You'll find graduates working across diverse sectors, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to advanced materials, energy, and even management consulting, often in roles focused on process optimization, product development, or technical project leadership.
The program's comprehensive foundation prepares you for an evolving landscape, where adaptability is crucial. To best leverage this, focus on securing internships early and exploring interdisciplinary coursework. Developing strong communication and project management skills alongside your technical expertise will position you well to lead teams and innovate, ensuring your career trajectory remains robust even as industry dynamics shift.
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 Virginia'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 Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Chemical Engineering at University of Virginia
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
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 $872,844 in decade earnings vs $1,096,472 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.