U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 87 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 29% 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 $25,905. College Scorecard.
MSU Chemical Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Montana 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 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 | $17,797 | $79,019 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $18,570 | $82,451 | 1.5 years |
| $48–75k | $21,977 | $97,578 | 1.8 years |
| $75–110k | $24,732 | $109,810 | 2.0 years |
| $110k+ | $25,905 | $115,018 | 2.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($87,590) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MT (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $54,074 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.
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: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 57% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $53,263
- Full cost breakdown · all 59 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Biomedical Engineering—
- Electrical Engineering$98,331
- Civil Engineering$82,785
MSU Chemical Engineering questions
How much do MSU Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of Montana State University earn a median $87,590 four years after graduating and $62,206 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 Montana State University is $25,130, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Where does MSU rank for Chemical Engineering in Montana?
Of 1 Montana colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, Montana State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $127,490 in Montana and $125,040 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and bioengineers and biomedical engineers.
Is MSU the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing MSU with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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: “Montana State University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/montana-state-university/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).