Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Oregon State's Cascades campus delivers competitive chemical engineering outcomes at a price point that makes sense. With first-year earnings of $71,618 and debt around $24,750, graduates face a manageable debt burden—just 35% of their starting salary. That's better than three-fifths of chemical engineering programs nationally when it comes to debt load, meaning your child won't be house-poor paying off loans.

The numbers tell a straightforward story: earnings sit right at Oregon's median for chemical engineering and just slightly below the national average, while debt remains contained. The 11% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests solid career progression. Given that only two Oregon schools offer this major, the Cascades campus holds its own against the main OSU campus in Corvallis, posting identical median earnings.

The moderate sample size warrants mention—outcomes reflect 30-100 graduates, not thousands—but the fundamentals are sound. Your child gets an engineering degree that pays from day one without crushing debt, in a growing tech corridor. For families weighing cost against career prospects, this program delivers the core promise of chemical engineering: strong starting salaries and clear returns on investment.