Program Analysis
Graduates earn $69,820/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 15.5x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $69,820 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #83 ranking among 158 Chemical Engineering programs places Washington State University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 26% earnings increase from $69,820 to $88,132 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.