Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University vs University of Arkansas

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
In-State
38.5x
$25,984 tuition
23.7x
$38,992 tuition
Out-of-State
38.5x
$25,984 tuition
8.0x
$115,088 tuition
$1,000,537 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$925,250 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University University of Arkansas
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 38.5x 23.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 38.5x 8.0x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $38,992
Year 1 Earnings $77,565 $75,102
10-Year Earnings $1,001K $925K
Median Debt $14,680 $20,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.3 months 3.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 69/100 68/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 71.7%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (48% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Chemical Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Chemical Engineering graduates.

Brigham Young University University of Arkansas
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $38,992
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $115,088
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,001K $925K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 38.5x 23.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 38.5x 8.0x
5-Year Salary Growth +41% +35%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Chemical Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University University of Arkansas
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,055K $1,001K $846K $972K $925K $790K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 40.6x 38.5x 32.5x 24.9x 23.7x 20.3x
DegreeWorth Score 72 69 65 70 68 63

For the full AI analysis of Chemical Engineering career paths, see the Brigham Young University or University of Arkansas program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Chemical Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,008
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$2,463/yr
Brigham Young University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
38.5x / 23.7x
Out-of-state: 38.5x / 8.0x

Career Paths

Chemical Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Chemical engineers $121,860 1,100 +2.6% 46%
Engineers, all other $117,750 9,300 +2.1% 46%
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950 1,300 +5.2% 59%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Chemical Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University or University of Arkansas?
Brigham Young University scores 69/100 while University of Arkansas scores 68/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Chemical Engineering?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 38.5x vs University of Arkansas's 23.7x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and University of Arkansas compare on Chemical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $77,565 at Brigham Young University vs $75,102 at University of Arkansas. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,000,537 vs $925,250 — a difference of $75,287.
How much does Chemical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $38,992 at University of Arkansas. Median debt at graduation is $14,680 vs $20,500. Both programs lead to the same Chemical Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.