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Chemical Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
71
Optimistic
69
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,952/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 21.1x earnings multiple (11.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #94 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs

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 $896K $857K $740K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 22.1x 21.1x 18.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.3x 11.8x 10.2x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 69 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,576
Out-of-state: $72,832 (11.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,268
-26% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,153
54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $57,952/yr fall 20% below the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 21.1x 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 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #94 out of 158 programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $57,952 to $89,153 over five years (54% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 9,878 students in Chattanooga, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga →

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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,273) Mechanical Engineering ($66,517) Civil Engineering ($65,419) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,273) Engineering-Related Fields ($60,284) Computer Science ($59,567) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,308) Design and Applied Arts ($41,968)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 69/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga trails the majority of Chemical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 are Chemical Engineering earnings lower at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
Lower starting pay at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →