Program Analysis
At $84,468 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Houston earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 22.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $19,228 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
University of Houston ranks #5 among 158 Chemical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The limited growth from $84,468 to $99,077 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.