WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+4% vs national median511 grads tracked

Chemical Engineering at University of Virginia

Ranked 12th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$83,397
middle 50%: $68,723 – $98,959
Median · 5 years out
$108,167
middle 50%: $83,557 – $136,278
Median · 10 years out
$145,997
middle 50%: $122,117 – $194,537

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

Graduates of University of Virginia's bachelor's program in Chemical Engineering earn a median $83,397 one year after graduating, rising to $145,997 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $104,343 for this field, ranking 12th of 65 reporting programs.

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
≈ $3,980 total interest

Same major at other universities

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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$109,958 · 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
University of Michigan
$105,756 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Virginia

Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$222,735 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$198,412 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$187,481 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$163,027 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$162,877 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$144,468 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$133,882 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$133,294 · 5 yrs out

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