Chemical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Chemical Engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University earn a median salary of $105,085 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $102,522. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$86,222
Typical Career
$105,085
Top Performers
$124,828
Estimated break-even: 3.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$701
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,757. Most students can comfortably afford about a $701 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.4x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$102,522
Nominal: $105,085 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $68,001 | $83,490 | $98,420 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $86,222 | $105,085 | $124,828 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $104,709 | $133,776 | $165,855 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $105,085 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $105,085 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $102,522 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates typically enter diverse fields, with the largest sectors being Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (30.3%), Educational Services (10.5%), and Manufacturing (8.8%). The estimated break-even point for those pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 3.1 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students. Overall, the combination of strong earning potential and diverse career opportunities positions Chemical Engineering as a viable and rewarding career choice for prospective students.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Chemical Engineering degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.