Home › New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology › Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,215/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)

ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #150 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	$626K	$613K	$561K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.3x	16.9x	15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.8x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	82%	74%	54%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,232

Out-of-state: $105,248 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$33,060

9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,000

3.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $57,215 place New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology below the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $57,215 far exceeding the $15,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #150 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

A 54% admission rate makes New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 1,122 in Socorro, NM.

See all programs and financial aid at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology →

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 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology?

This program scores 56/100 — 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 $560,618 in decade earnings vs $626,049 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Chemical Engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →