U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 140 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 22% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,298.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $24,018. College Scorecard.
ISU Chemical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemical Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses ISU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,582 | $45,714 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $11,506 | $49,706 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $15,463 | $66,800 | 1.2 years |
| $75–110k | $19,605 | $84,694 | 1.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,496 | $97,183 | 1.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Chemical Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($92,773) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $56,112 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemical Engineering at Iowa colleges
Every Iowa college we cover that reports Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa | $97,329 | $27,000 | $22,531 | 75% |
| 2 | Iowa State University | $92,773 | $20,188 | $18,589 | 75% |
1 more Iowa college offers Chemical Engineering but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Chemical Engineering graduates
Chemical engineer
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.7% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at ISU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About ISU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,386
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at ISU
- Biochemistry$63,026
- Electrical Engineering$99,705
- Civil Engineering$85,427
ISU Chemical Engineering questions
How much do ISU Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median $92,773 four years after graduating and $76,184 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.
How much debt do ISU Chemical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of Iowa State University is $20,188, about 22% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Where does ISU rank for Chemical Engineering in Iowa?
Of 2 Iowa colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, Iowa State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Iowa at $97,329.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $117,590 in Iowa and $125,040 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and bioengineers and biomedical engineers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Iowa State University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/iowa-state-university/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).