Bachelor's-5% vs national median606 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 39th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$78,121
middle 50%: $59,934 – $89,584
Median · 5 years out
$99,316
middle 50%: $81,370 – $118,899
Median · 10 years out
$123,953
middle 50%: $100,794 – $156,863
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 a median of $78,121 in their first year. This figure rises to $124k after ten years of experience.
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 yrs
≈ $4,292 total interest
Same major at other universities
Clemson University
$100,908 · 5 yrs out
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 Iowa
$99,144 · 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
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 5 yrs out
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