Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $65,389 track close to the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 14.6x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $22,950 in median debt against $65,389 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
At #102 out of 158 programs, University of Kentucky's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $65,389 to $83,438 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.