Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
69
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $80,193/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 11.6x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #88 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 $891K $852K $736K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.1x 11.6x 10.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.2x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 69 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$73,568
Out-of-state: $165,360 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,916
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,875
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,207
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Michigan Technological University's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $80,193/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.6x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,875 in median debt clears quickly against $80,193 in annual earnings.

Ranked #88 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, Michigan Technological University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $95,207 are relatively flat compared to the $80,193 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Michigan Technological University

A 88% acceptance rate means Michigan Technological University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 5,829 students in Houghton, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan Technological 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 Michigan Technological University

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $736,427 in decade earnings vs $890,934 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →