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Chemical Engineering at University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $80,564/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (48% exposed)

Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.1x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #60 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs Top 50%

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	$882K	$844K	$730K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.1x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.3x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	82%	74%	54%
DegreeOutlook Score	72	71	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,320

Out-of-state: $158,880 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,724

-5% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

3.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$94,396

17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $80,564/yr, edging above the $72,288 national average for Chemical Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.1x 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 17% gap from the optimistic case.

At $26,000 in median debt against $80,564 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #60 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Delaware scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $94,396 are relatively flat compared to the $80,564 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Delaware

With a 65% acceptance rate, University of Delaware is moderately selective, enrolling 18,812 students in Newark, DE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Delaware →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Delaware?

This program scores 71/100 — 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 $730,445 in decade earnings vs $881,922 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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