Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Chemical Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public · Federal field 1407

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$5,570 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
25.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$101,820 / year
10-year scenario
+89% · Positive payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$103,728 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+21%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$82,218$99,826
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
75Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
135Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
214Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$48,257Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

242Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
69Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
77Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
185Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$103,728$68,454 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 33 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,875

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,831

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$103,728

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$284/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,875Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE86.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$82,218Year 1
$103,728Year 4
$99,826Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.3% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$8,644
Estimated loan payment$284
214borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$103,728 vs. $98,158

$5,570 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$164,690 median wagePA estimate · 9,640 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChemical Engineers$116,970 median wagePA estimate · 810 jobs · 17-2041+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$82,070 median wagePA estimate · 2,990 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$122,560 median wagePA estimate · 950 jobs · 17-2031+7.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineers, All Other$108,950 median wagePA estimate · 3,250 jobs · 17-2199+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 8.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon University

$6,650 higher earnings · $3,706 less debt · $931 lower annual net price

Earnings
$110,378
Debt
$23,125
Annual net price
$31,944
View outcomes →
Philadelphia, PA

University of Pennsylvania

$6,156 higher earnings · $6,331 less debt · $4,176 lower annual net price

Earnings
$109,884
Debt
$20,500
Annual net price
$28,699
View outcomes →
Easton, PA

Lafayette College

$11,998 higher earnings · $9,831 less debt

Earnings
$115,726
Debt
$17,000
Annual net price
$34,433
View outcomes →
Johnstown, PA

University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

$283 less debt · $14,673 lower annual net price

Earnings
$97,324
Debt
$26,548
Annual net price
$18,202
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

135 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

Calculate my payoff →