U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 154 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 26% 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 $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Chemical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
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 MSU'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 | $7,068 | $29,968 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 1.0 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 1.4 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 1.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% 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 ($102,223) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $68,812 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor | $109,405 | $21,250 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Kettering University | $103,868 | $29,000 | $34,660 | 71% |
| 3 | Michigan State University | $102,223 | $26,573 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 4 | Michigan Technological University | $94,478 | $24,750 | $14,182 | 68% |
| 5 | Wayne State University | $93,047 | $29,900 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 6 | Western Michigan University | $91,777 | $29,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
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 MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Biochemistry$63,419
- Electrical Engineering$100,481
- Civil Engineering$90,650
MSU Chemical Engineering questions
How much do MSU Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $102,223 four years after graduating and $79,023 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.
How much debt do MSU Chemical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of Michigan State University is $26,573, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Is MSU a good school for Chemical Engineering in Michigan?
On pay, Chemical Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn $102,223 four years out, $3,873 above the median for the same major across 6 Michigan colleges ($98,350) and $5,419 above the U.S. median ($96,804). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Chemical Engineering in Michigan?
Of 6 Michigan colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $109,405.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $66,230 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area 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: “Michigan State University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).