U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 17% 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 $23,274. College Scorecard.
NMSU 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 NMSU'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 | $6,648 | $29,650 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $7,424 | $33,111 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $9,861 | $43,980 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $13,146 | $58,631 | 1.0 years |
| $110k+ | $14,049 | $62,659 | 1.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% 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 ($90,091) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $59,368 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 New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico 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 New Mexico | $96,810 | $20,187 | $15,489 | 55% |
| 2 | New Mexico State University | $90,091 | $15,000 | $8,889 | 55% |
| 3 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | $85,900 | $14,250 | $9,873 | 57% |
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 NMSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NMSU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $39,067
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at NMSU
- Biochemistry—
- Electrical Engineering$95,683
- Civil Engineering$74,115
NMSU Chemical Engineering questions
How much do NMSU Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University earn a median $90,091 four years after graduating and $75,766 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.
How much debt do NMSU Chemical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University is $15,000, about 17% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Is NMSU a good school for Chemical Engineering in New Mexico?
On pay, Chemical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University earn $90,091 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 New Mexico colleges ($90,091) and $6,713 below the U.S. median ($96,804). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NMSU rank for Chemical Engineering in New Mexico?
Of 3 New Mexico colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, New Mexico State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of New Mexico at $96,810.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $158,190 in New Mexico and $125,040 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and bioengineers and biomedical engineers.
Is NMSU the right fit for your family?
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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: “New Mexico State University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).