Chemical Engineering at Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
63
Optimistic
61
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,367/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #130 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 $1,131K $1,069K $896K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 3.9x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 61 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$271,376
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$141,740
48% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$115,375
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,367 track close to the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.9x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At #130 out of 158 programs, Tufts University's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $75,367 to $115,375 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Tufts University

Tufts University admits 10% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with a mid-sized student body of 6,804 in Medford, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $141,740 — 48% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Tufts University →

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

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Tufts University's Chemical Engineering program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Tufts University 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →