Program Analysis
Graduates earn $69,809/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 18.8x 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.
With first-year pay of $69,809 far exceeding the $22,625 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #46 out of 158 programs, The University of Alabama's Chemical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $69,809 to $97,080 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.