Program Analysis
Graduates earn $72,785/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 22.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $72,785 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranks #28 among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 40% earnings increase from $72,785 to $102,160 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.