Home › North Carolina State University at Raleigh › Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
76
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $81,492/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 26.1x earnings multiple (7.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #3 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 5%

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 $975K $928K $792K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 27.4x 26.1x 22.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.7x 7.3x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 76 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,580
Out-of-state: $127,068 (7.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,724
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,155
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$103,529
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $81,492/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 26.1x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,155 in median debt clears quickly against $81,492 in annual earnings.

Ranked #3 out of 158 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $81,492 to $103,529 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Admission to North Carolina State University at Raleigh is competitive, with 40% of applicants accepted, serving a student body of 26,389 in Raleigh, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh →

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

Compare this program → View all 158 schools offering Chemical Engineering →

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

Rice University ($87,830) The University of Texas at Austin ($87,365) Lamar University ($87,284) University of Florida ($87,164) Texas A & M University-College Station ($86,176) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($85,945) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($85,847) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($85,772)

Compare Chemical Engineering

North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs The University of Texas at Austin → North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs Lamar University → North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of Florida → North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs Texas A & M University-College Station → North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs University of Wisconsin-Madison → North Carolina State University at Raleigh vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus →

Other Majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science ($85,809) Computer Engineering ($82,997) Industrial Engineering ($81,055) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,687) Construction Engineering ($76,574) Nuclear Engineering ($74,540) Materials Engineering ($74,058) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($74,016)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Chemical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does North Carolina State University at Raleigh rank so high for Chemical Engineering?
The #3 ranking out of 158 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →