WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-8% vs national median403 grads tracked

Chemical Engineering at West Virginia University

Ranked 51st of 65 bachelor's programs in Chemical Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$81,126
middle 50%: $56,170 – $92,596
Median · 5 years out
$95,502
middle 50%: $75,752 – $118,385
Median · 10 years out
$121,240
middle 50%: $99,021 – $152,215

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 West Virginia University's bachelor's program in Chemical Engineering earn a median $81,126 one year after graduating, rising to $121,240 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 8% below the national median of $104,343 for this field, ranking 51st 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
4 yrs
≈ $4,209 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Maine
$97,497 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Stony Brook
$96,975 · 5 yrs out
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
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

Other majors at West Virginia University

Dentistry (Doctorate)
$165,016 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$156,627 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,069 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$150,321 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$128,840 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$122,766 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,107 · 5 yrs out
Petroleum Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,311 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$109,203 · 5 yrs out

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