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Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,618/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.5x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #57 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $922K $880K $757K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 17.5x 15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.3x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 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)
$50,376
Out-of-state: $139,776 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$70,888
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$95,971
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Chemical Engineering program produces graduates earning $71,618/yr — within striking distance of the $72,288 national average for this field.

The 17.5x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,000 in median debt clears quickly against $71,618 in annual earnings.

Ranked #57 out of 158 programs, Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Chemical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,618 to $95,971 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's 68% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,054 students in Bend, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Oregon State University-Cascades 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 Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Computer Science ($85,376) Construction Engineering ($80,936) Industrial Engineering ($78,425) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,636) Manufacturing Engineering ($72,154) Engineering, Other ($71,549) Civil Engineering ($70,635) Nuclear Engineering ($69,657)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oregon State University-Cascades Campus's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Oregon State University-Cascades 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →