Chemical Engineering at Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
70
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,609/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (17.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #80 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Chemical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $787K $759K $668K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 17.6x 15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 17.7x 17.0x 15.0x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 70 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,164
Out-of-state: $44,604 (17.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,508
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,375
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$82,846
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Youngstown State University's Chemical Engineering program produces graduates earning $69,609/yr — within striking distance of the $72,288 national average for this field.

The 17.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $25,375 in median debt clears quickly against $69,609 in annual earnings.

At #80 out of 158 programs, Youngstown State University's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $69,609 to $82,846 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Youngstown State University

A 80% acceptance rate means Youngstown State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 7,340 in Youngstown, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Youngstown State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Chemical engineers $121,860/yr
Engineers, all other $117,750/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Youngstown State University

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Youngstown State University's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 70/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Youngstown State University 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →