U.S. median for this major: $96,804.
College Scorecard field of study; 39 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 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 $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU 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 CU'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 | $14,231 | $60,624 | 1.1 years |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | 1.1 years |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | 1.5 years |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | 2.1 years |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | 2.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% 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 ($95,780) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $55,170 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 Colorado colleges
Every Colorado 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 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $97,271 | $21,240 | $21,279 | 67% |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder | $95,780 | $24,500 | $25,346 | 74% |
| 3 | Colorado School of Mines | $94,598 | $27,000 | $28,690 | 82% |
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 CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Biomedical Engineering—
- Biochemistry$68,488
- Biochemical Engineering$89,262
- Electrical Engineering$100,631
- Civil Engineering$94,960
CU Chemical Engineering questions
How much do CU Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
Chemical Engineering graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $95,780 four years after graduating and $70,359 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemical Engineering graduates across 158 colleges is $96,804.
How much debt do CU Chemical Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemical Engineering graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $24,500, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,298.
Is CU a good school for Chemical Engineering in Colorado?
On pay, Chemical Engineering graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn $95,780 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Colorado colleges ($95,780) and $1,024 below the U.S. median ($96,804). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CU rank for Chemical Engineering in Colorado?
Of 3 Colorado colleges reporting Chemical Engineering graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 2nd. The highest is Colorado State University-Fort Collins at $97,271.
What jobs do Chemical Engineering graduates get?
A common career is chemical engineer, with a median wage of $125,800 in the Boulder, CO 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: “University of Colorado Boulder Chemical Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/chemical-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).