Bachelor's-9% vs national median522 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago
Ranked 53rd of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$71,408
middle 50%: $50,919 – $85,254
Median · 5 years out
$95,343
middle 50%: $77,653 – $112,565
Median · 10 years out
$119,554
middle 50%: $94,773 – $149,736
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 bachelor's graduates earn a median of $71,408 in year one. Median salaries rise to $119,554 after 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,655 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Toledo
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$96,177 · 5 yrs out
University of New Haven
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$95,609 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$95,502 · 5 yrs out
University of Wyoming
$95,378 · 5 yrs out
Montana State University Bozeman
$95,322 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$93,995 · 5 yrs out
Hampton University
$92,948 · 5 yrs out
Trine University
$92,467 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$92,146 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$139,846 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out
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