Chemical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT's chemical engineering program delivers earnings that surpass both state and national medians by around $8,000 in the first year, but what really stands out is the debt picture. At $30,750, graduates carry about $6,000-7,000 more debt than typical chemical engineers in New York and nationally. Still, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, this sits comfortably in "manageable" territory—these graduates earn enough in their first year to cover their full debt load roughly 2.4 times over.

The earnings trajectory looks healthy, climbing 9% to over $80,000 by year four. While RIT doesn't match the outputs of Cornell or RPI—the state's elite engineering schools—it performs squarely in the middle of New York's chemical engineering programs, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. For a school with a 71% admission rate, that's a solid return. The program produces working engineers who command respectable salaries right out of the gate.

The higher debt warrants attention, particularly if you're comparing in-state public options where costs might be lower. But for families comfortable with the price premium, RIT delivers competitive chemical engineering outcomes without the ultra-selective admissions of the top-tier programs. You're paying more upfront, but graduates are earning enough to justify that investment within their first year of work.