Bachelor's+8% vs national median1,073 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines
Ranked 9th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$80,126
middle 50%: $58,980 – $100,478
Median · 5 years out
$112,328
middle 50%: $86,253 – $147,066
Median · 10 years out
$141,397
middle 50%: $103,746 – $208,200
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Chemical Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Chemical Engineering graduates from Colorado School of Mines command high initial salaries. Median earnings start at $80k and reach $141k by year ten.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
3.8 yrs
≈ $4,066 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas at Austin
$120,123 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana State University & Agricultural & Mechanical College
$120,095 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$116,759 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$114,843 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$114,357 · 5 yrs out
Oklahoma State University
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$110,221 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$109,958 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$108,167 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
$107,201 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$106,913 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$106,531 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado School of Mines
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$209,919 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,398 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,731 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Master's)
$128,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$126,300 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$126,300 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$125,817 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$120,072 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$117,947 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Master's)
$115,506 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$115,100 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$110,609 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Compare universities
Agricultural Engineering
Compare universities
Architectural Engineering
Compare universities
Biochemical Engineering
Compare universities
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Compare universities
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Compare universities