Bachelor's-5% vs national median437 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at University of Iowa
Ranked 40th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$73,872
middle 50%: $55,535 – $88,251
Median · 5 years out
$99,144
middle 50%: $81,724 – $119,500
Median · 10 years out
$125,175
middle 50%: $93,095 – $165,226
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 alumni earn $74k in their first year. Median salaries reach $99k at five years and $125k at ten years.
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
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,483 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ohio State University (The)
$100,878 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$100,076 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$100,066 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$99,928 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$99,674 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$99,316 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$98,926 · 5 yrs out
Missouri University of Science and Technology
$98,639 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$97,739 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$97,617 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$97,497 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$96,975 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Iowa
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$197,724 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$173,339 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$167,710 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$157,015 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$151,198 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$144,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$121,670 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$114,999 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$112,327 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,625 · 5 yrs out
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