Chemical Engineering at University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

For families seeking solid engineering credentials at a price that won't overwhelm young graduates, Pitt-Johnstown's chemical engineering program delivers what matters most: competitive starting pay with manageable debt. With graduates earning $73,072 in their first year and carrying just $26,548 in loans, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means most students could pay off these loans within a few years while establishing their careers.

The program sits squarely at the national median for chemical engineering earnings but trails the Pennsylvania state median by about $4,500—ranking in the 40th percentile among the state's 11 programs. That gap matters for families comparing options: Lehigh and Penn graduates start about $9,000 higher, though those schools come with steeper price tags and far more selective admission. What you're getting here is accessible engineering education (96% acceptance rate) that still leads to professional-level pay. The 23% earnings bump by year four suggests graduates are advancing normally in their careers.

The real appeal is straightforward: your child can enter chemical engineering without needing top-tier test scores or risking catastrophic debt, and they'll still earn well above the national median for all bachelor's degrees ($46,000). For Pennsylvania families prioritizing debt control over prestige, this represents a practical path to a lucrative field.