Chemical Engineering at Drexel University

Drexel's chemical engineering program hits right at Pennsylvania's median for earnings while carrying slightly more debt than typical—but that 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio still translates to manageable repayment. Your child would start at $77,528 and reach over $90,000 within four years, putting them in the 69th percentile nationally and exactly middle-of-the-pack among Pennsylvania's 11 chemical engineering programs.

The numbers tell a straightforward story: Drexel trails the state's elite programs (Penn, Lehigh) by about $5,000-8,000 in starting salary, but it also admits three-quarters of applicants rather than operating as a highly selective program. For chemical engineering specifically, that accessibility matters—you're getting solid six-figure earning potential within a few years without needing perfect credentials to get in. The 17% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are advancing normally in their careers.

That extra $4,000-7,000 in debt compared to Pennsylvania's median deserves attention, though it's far below the troubling levels seen in other programs. With strong starting salaries in chemical engineering, your child should be able to handle standard ten-year repayment without strain. If they're choosing between Drexel and Pitt-Johnsburg (the only more affordable option on this list), the $4,000 earnings advantage makes Drexel the clear financial winner.