Bachelor's-12% vs national median344 grads tracked
Chemical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University
Ranked 58th of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$75,035
middle 50%: $54,757 – $89,655
Median · 5 years out
$92,146
middle 50%: $70,870 – $111,308
Median · 10 years out
$115,217
middle 50%: $86,367 – $149,185
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 graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $75k in their first year. Salaries reach $115k by year ten.
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
≈ $4,530 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wyoming
$95,378 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$95,343 · 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
University of Alabama in Huntsville
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Colorado State University
$91,853 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Buffalo
$90,562 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$90,301 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$89,221 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Commonwealth University
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$175,347 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$157,685 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$154,279 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,472 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$131,725 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$128,182 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$123,259 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$122,217 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$105,799 · 5 yrs out
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Master's)
$105,500 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$105,054 · 5 yrs out
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