Program Analysis
Graduates earn $71,873/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 16.7x 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.
With first-year pay of $71,873 far exceeding the $21,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #70 out of 158 programs, University of Akron Main Campus's Chemical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,873 to $93,451 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.