Program Analysis
At $85,772 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Virginia-Main Campus earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $17,733 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #55 of 158 Chemical Engineering programs, University of Virginia-Main Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $85,772 to $115,895 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.