Chemical Engineering: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
$114,037 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,798
- Federal debt
- $23,274
- Reporting programs
- 159
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $114,037
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $173,065
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1North Carolina State University at Raleigh$131,8732University of Houston$125,3343Northeastern University$122,0434Arizona State University Campus Immersion$116,8905Drexel University$116,2426Columbia University in the City of New York$114,0377University of California, Berkeley$114,0348Illinois Institute of Technology$111,1499New Jersey Institute of Technology$110,95010University of Louisville$104,744Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at RaleighMaster's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $131,873 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,303 |
| 2 | University of HoustonMaster's Degree | Houston, TX | $125,334 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,276 |
| 3 | Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $122,043 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,915 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $116,890 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 5 | Drexel UniversityMaster's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $116,242 | Not available | Baseline needed | $38,509 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $114,037 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 7 | University of California, BerkeleyMaster's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $114,034 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,481 |
| 8 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $111,149 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,425 |
| 9 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Newark, NJ | $110,950 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,504 |
| 10 | University of LouisvilleMaster's Degree | Louisville, KY | $104,744 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,988 |
| 11 | University at BuffaloMaster's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $102,730 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,995 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.