Program Analysis
Graduates earn $64,039/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 22.4x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Chemical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $64,039 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #67 ranking among 158 Chemical Engineering programs places University of Nevada-Reno in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 35% earnings increase from $64,039 to $86,398 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.