Chemical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Tech's chemical engineering program starts graduates nearly $10,000 below the national median at $64,526—trailing not just elite Northwestern and Illinois Urbana-Champaign, but also landing in the bottom fifth nationally. Within Illinois, where five schools offer this degree, it ranks at the 40th percentile, sitting closer to UIC's outcomes than to the state's stronger programs. The $26,747 debt load is relatively manageable, but when you're earning significantly less than peers from comparable programs, even modest debt takes longer to overcome.

The 34% earnings growth to $86,454 by year four offers some reassurance that graduates eventually reach competitive territory. This suggests the program's technical foundation is solid enough for career progression—just slower out of the gate. For a family considering Illinois Tech's tuition against state flagships where aid packages might differ, that initial earnings gap matters. You're potentially leaving $13,000 on the table in year one compared to Urbana-Champaign graduates.

The calculation here is straightforward: if Illinois Tech offers substantially better financial aid or fits your student's learning style better than alternatives, the program will get them to respectable chemical engineering earnings eventually. But purely on outcomes, there are stronger options within Illinois that cost similarly and start careers on firmer financial footing.