Chemical Engineering at University of Dayton

University of Dayton's chemical engineering graduates earn nearly $80,000 right out of school—about $10,000 more than the typical Ohio chemical engineering program and $7,000 above the national median. That's solid performance, though not quite at the level of Case Western or Cincinnati's programs nearby. The 60th percentile ranking among Ohio schools puts this squarely in the middle of the state's competitive chemical engineering landscape, but the national 80th percentile shows it compares favorably to programs across the country.

The financial picture is straightforward: graduates leave with roughly $23,000 in debt against nearly $80,000 in starting salary, creating one of the better debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find in any field. Earnings climb another 14% by year four, reaching over $90,000. With a 62% acceptance rate, this program offers accessible entry into a lucrative career without the ultra-competitive admissions of some peer schools.

For families seeking strong engineering outcomes without gambling on highly selective programs, this delivers. The starting salary alone covers the debt burden multiple times over, and the steady earnings growth suggests graduates build successful careers. You're paying slightly more than state median debt but getting meaningfully higher earnings—a trade most parents would accept.