Chemical Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's chemical engineering program places graduates into strong starting positions at $81,492—beating the national median by over $8,000 and landing in the 90th percentile nationwide. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile within North Carolina's limited pool of three chemical engineering programs, this is less concerning than it sounds: NC State still outpaces NC A&T, the next-closest program, by about $3,000. The $22,244 in typical debt sits comfortably below both state and national medians.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 means graduates can expect to earn their total educational debt back in just over three months of work—a favorable position for any STEM field. Earnings climb 16% to nearly $95,000 by year four, showing healthy career progression as graduates move beyond entry-level roles in the chemical industry.

For a flagship state university with a 40% admission rate, this program delivers exactly what parents should expect: solid employment outcomes in a technical field without the debt burden that can accompany private institutions. The combination of accessible admission, reasonable debt levels, and six-figure earning potential by mid-career makes this a straightforward choice for North Carolina residents considering chemical engineering.