Home › University of Rhode Island › Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering at University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
69 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
69
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,406/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (30,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #93 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs

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 $844K $809K $705K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.3x 10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 82% 74% 54%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 69 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,632
Out-of-state: $143,216 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,596
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,816
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$89,578
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,406 track close to the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x 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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $26,816 in median debt against $75,406 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #93 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Rhode Island falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $89,578 are relatively flat compared to the $75,406 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 13,822 students in Kingston, RI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Rhode Island →

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

Compare this program → View all 158 schools offering Chemical Engineering →

Chemical Engineering at Other Schools

Rice University ($87,830) The University of Texas at Austin ($87,365) Lamar University ($87,284) University of Florida ($87,164) Texas A & M University-College Station ($86,176) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($85,945) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($85,847) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($85,772)

Other Majors at University of Rhode Island

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($82,218) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,508) Computer Engineering ($80,029) Ocean Engineering ($70,939) Mechanical Engineering ($70,724) Civil Engineering ($68,728) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($68,410) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($67,736)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Chemical Engineering at University of Rhode Island?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Chemical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $705,069 in decade earnings vs $843,686 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →