Program Analysis
Graduates earn $68,337/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.0x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $68,337 far exceeding the $15,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #59 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of California-Davis scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $109,456 show a 60% jump from the $68,337 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.