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Chemical Engineering at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $81,553/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 19.6x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 10%

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 $1,235K $1,162K $965K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.8x 19.6x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.4x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,155
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$126,322
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Berkeley's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $81,553/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Chemical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Chemical Engineering's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,155 in median debt clears quickly against $81,553 in annual earnings.

Ranked #11 of 158 programs, University of California-Berkeley's Chemical Engineering program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $126,322 show a 55% jump from the $81,553 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Berkeley

Only 12% of applicants gain admission to University of California-Berkeley, reflecting elite selectivity, with 33,073 students enrolled in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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)

Compare Chemical Engineering

University of California-Berkeley vs The University of Texas at Austin → University of California-Berkeley vs Lamar University → University of California-Berkeley vs University of Florida → University of California-Berkeley vs Texas A & M University-College Station → University of California-Berkeley vs University of Wisconsin-Madison → University of California-Berkeley vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus →

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Economics ($80,446)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of California-Berkeley?
This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Chemical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Chemical Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $964,695 in decade earnings vs $1,234,864 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →