Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas A&M-Kingsville's chemical engineering program starts graduates at just $55,622—roughly $30,000 below the Texas median and among the bottom 10% of programs statewide. For a family deciding between this and similar programs at UT Austin or Texas A&M College Station, that's a striking gap given the same degree title. The modest debt load of $23,500 doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage when peers at other Texas schools are earning 50% more right out of the gate.

The trajectory improves significantly, with earnings jumping 56% to reach $86,698 by year four—nearly matching graduates from the flagship programs. This suggests the program may serve students who need more time to build skills and networks, potentially those entering less competitive first jobs before advancing. With 55% of students on Pell grants and a 92% admission rate, many graduates here may be breaking into engineering careers without traditional advantages.

If your child has competitive stats and can attend a higher-ranked Texas engineering program, the data favors that choice—the earnings gap in those critical first years matters for debt repayment and career momentum. But for students who need a more accessible entry point into chemical engineering and can weather a slower start, the eventual earning power becomes competitive. Just understand you're trading early earnings for broader admission standards.