Chemical Engineering at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's chemical engineering program delivers exactly what you'd expect: solid outcomes without breaking the bank. The $27,000 median debt ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of chemical engineering programs saddle students with more debt—while starting salaries of $71,599 put graduates immediately on stable financial footing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 means students typically owe less than half their first year's salary, a comfortable position for new engineers.

The earnings trajectory tells a reassuring story. Four years out, the median climbs to $87,747, a 23% increase that suggests these graduates are progressing normally in their careers. While the program sits below the national median for chemical engineering earnings ($72,974), this gap is modest—just $1,375 in year one—and closes as graduates gain experience. The 87% admission rate means your child faces reasonable odds of getting in, though the program itself maintains professional engineering standards.

For an anxious parent, this is straightforward: your child can graduate with manageable debt and enter a field with clear earning potential. The program won't catapult them to the top of the chemical engineering pay scale, but it won't bury them in debt either. That's a trade-off worth considering, especially if keeping costs low is a priority for your family.