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Chemical Engineering at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,680/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)

ROI 17.4x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #30 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 25%

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	$1,007K	$957K	$814K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.3x	17.4x	14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.7x	5.4x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	82%	74%	54%
DegreeOutlook Score	75	73	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,988

Out-of-state: $178,096 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,052

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,000

2.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$105,166

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,680 at University of California-Los Angeles come in 6% above the national median of $72,288 for Chemical Engineering programs.

The 17.4x 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 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $76,680 far exceeding the $17,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #30 out of 158 programs, University of California-Los Angeles's Chemical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $76,680 to $105,166 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles's 9% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, serving a student body of 33,040 in Los Angeles, CA.

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

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

Other Majors at University of California-Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Los Angeles's Chemical Engineering program score?

A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Los Angeles's Chemical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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 does University of California-Los Angeles rank so high for Chemical Engineering?

The #30 ranking out of 158 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →