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Chemical Engineering at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $79,737/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)

ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #31 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	$985K	$937K	$799K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.5x	15.7x	13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.1x	4.4x
Probability of Field Employment	82%	74%	54%
DegreeOutlook Score	74	73	70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$59,860

Out-of-state: $182,968 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,300

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,937

2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$104,039

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Chemical Engineering graduates start at $79,737/yr — above the $72,288 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.7x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,937 in median debt clears quickly against $79,737 in annual earnings.

At #31 of 158 nationally, this is a top-5% Chemical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $79,737 to $104,039 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, with 23,205 students enrolled in Santa Barbara, CA.

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

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-Santa Barbara

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of California-Santa Barbara?

This program scores 73/100 — 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 $798,886 in decade earnings vs $985,043 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of California-Santa Barbara's Chemical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #31 of 158 programs nationally, University of California-Santa Barbara lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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