Program Analysis
At $78,767 per year, Chemical Engineering graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn slightly above the $72,288 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $27,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #131 out of 158 programs, Worcester Polytechnic Institute's financial outcomes for Chemical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,767 to $100,777 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.