Bachelor's+5% vs national median1,310 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ranked 11th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$84,927
middle 50%: $64,846 – $97,071
Median · 5 years out
$109,958
middle 50%: $92,254 – $134,653
Median · 10 years out
$145,556
middle 50%: $111,553 – $188,757
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 secure a median starting salary of $85k. By year ten, mid-career earnings reach $146k.
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
3.7 yrs
≈ $3,906 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Colorado School of Mines
$112,328 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$110,221 · 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
Georgia Institute of Technology
$106,251 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$105,975 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
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