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Chemical Engineering at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
74
Optimistic
73
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,455/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #36 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $920K $879K $756K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.9x 17.1x 14.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.7x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 73 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,436
Out-of-state: $153,460 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,168
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,780
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,429
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $77,455/yr, edging above the $72,288 national average for Chemical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.1x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,780 in median debt against $77,455 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #36 out of 158 programs, Ohio State University-Main Campus's Chemical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,455 to $97,429 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ohio State University-Main Campus

With a 51% acceptance rate, Ohio State University-Main Campus is moderately selective, serving a student body of 44,617 in Columbus, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio State University-Main Campus →

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)

Other Majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($83,342) Applied Mathematics ($82,523) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,448) Industrial Engineering ($80,876) Mechanical Engineering ($79,359) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,872) Engineering, Other ($78,734) Real Estate ($72,769)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ohio State University-Main Campus's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Ohio State University-Main Campus'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 Ohio State University-Main Campus rank so high for Chemical Engineering?
The #36 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 →