Program Analysis
Graduates earn $71,028/yr, roughly in line with the $72,288 national median for Chemical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 3.8x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.
AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $71,028 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #142 out of 158 programs, University of Rochester's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,028 to $105,189 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.