U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 200 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 $39,694. College Scorecard.
Pennsylvania State University 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 Pennsylvania State University'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 | $19,845 | $83,349 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $20,049 | $84,206 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $25,667 | $107,801 | 1.6 years |
| $75–110k | $31,834 | $133,703 | 2.0 years |
| $110k+ | $37,831 | $158,890 | 2.3 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (70% 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 ($103,728) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in PA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $67,931 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 Pennsylvania colleges
Every Pennsylvania 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 | Lafayette College | $115,726 | $17,000 | $34,433 | 88% |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | $110,378 | $23,125 | $31,944 | 94% |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | $109,884 | $20,500 | $28,699 | 97% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University | $103,728 | $26,831 | $32,875 | 86% |
| 5 | Villanova University | $103,601 | $27,000 | $43,756 | 92% |
| 6 | Lehigh University | $101,720 | $27,000 | $36,931 | 88% |
| 7 | Bucknell University | $99,536 | $27,000 | $40,766 | 86% |
| 8 | Drexel University | $99,338 | $30,860 | $38,509 | 78% |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | $97,324 | $26,548 | $18,202 | 56% |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | $97,324 | $26,548 | $30,434 | 86% |
| 11 | Widener University | $91,145 | $27,000 | $25,759 | 68% |
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 Pennsylvania State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance rate: 61% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 86% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,435
- Full cost breakdown · all 141 majors · overview
Related majors at Pennsylvania State University
- Biomedical Engineering$100,416
- Biochemistry$77,336
- Electrical Engineering$93,277
- Civil Engineering$81,403
Pennsylvania State University Chemical Engineering questions
How much do Pennsylvania State University Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn a median $103,728 four years after graduating and $82,218 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University Chemical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University is $26,831, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Is Pennsylvania State University a good school for Chemical Engineering in Pennsylvania?
On pay, Chemical Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University earn $103,728 four years out, $2,008 above the median for the same major across 11 Pennsylvania colleges ($101,720) and $6,924 above the U.S. median ($96,804). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Pennsylvania State University rank for Chemical Engineering in Pennsylvania?
Of 11 Pennsylvania colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University ranks 4th. The highest is Lafayette College at $115,726.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $116,970 in Pennsylvania 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: “Pennsylvania State University Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).