Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's Chemical Engineering program starts graduates at $58,377—roughly $15,000 below the national median and trailing other Illinois programs significantly. Among just five chemical engineering programs in Illinois, this ranks at the 25th percentile, which means only one program performs worse. Northwestern and UIUC graduates start nearly $20,000 higher, a substantial gap that persists even after four years when UIC grads reach $77,771.

The positive story here is the 33% earnings growth trajectory, which brings graduates closer to competitive levels by year four. The debt load of $23,875 is reasonable and manageable given the eventual earnings, yielding a debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio of 0.41. With a 79% admission rate and half of students receiving Pell grants, UIC serves a different population than Northwestern or UIUC, making the lower starting salary somewhat predictable given that many students may be first-generation or working while in school, potentially affecting initial job placement.

For families prioritizing immediate post-graduation earnings in chemical engineering, the other Illinois options deliver significantly better outcomes. However, if UIC is chosen for accessibility or cost reasons, the four-year earnings data suggests graduates do catch up somewhat, likely as they gain experience and pass their FE exam. Just understand you're accepting a $15,000-$20,000 starting salary disadvantage compared to peers at Illinois' flagship programs.