Chemical Engineering at Trine University

Trine's chemical engineering graduates start at $72,875—right at the national median but trailing Indiana's typical program by nearly $9,000. Among the state's four chemical engineering programs, this ranks 40th percentile, meaning graduates here earn less than at Notre Dame, Rose-Hulman, and Purdue's flagship. That gap matters in a state where engineering talent tends to command premium wages.

The financial picture has one clear strength: debt. At $27,000, students borrow just slightly more than the national median while keeping their debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.37. That's genuinely low for engineering, ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. Graduates see solid 15% earnings growth over four years, reaching $83,801, which actually surpasses what Purdue grads earn initially.

The catch? This data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. For a family choosing between Trine's 85% admission rate and Purdue's more selective program, the tradeoff is clear: you'll likely pay similar debt but earn about $8,000 less initially. If your student can gain admission to Purdue or Rose-Hulman, those programs deliver stronger starting salaries. But Trine offers reasonable debt and proven earnings growth for students who want accessible entry into chemical engineering.