Chemical Engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus

UVA chemical engineering graduates start at $86K—well above the national median but actually below Virginia Tech's program, ranking in just the 60th percentile statewide. That might surprise parents given UVA's prestige, but the gap narrows when you consider the full picture: UVA grads carry $17,733 in debt versus the state median of $25,350, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 that beats most engineering programs nationally.

The modest 9% earnings growth to $94K by year four is typical for chemical engineering, where strong starting salaries often flatten early in careers. What matters more here is the combination of solid pay and unusually low debt burden—graduates can pay off loans quickly while still earning above the national benchmark of $73K. Among just five Virginia schools offering this major, UVA sits in the middle for earnings but leads decisively on affordability.

For families weighing UVA against Virginia Tech, the decision comes down to $8K more per year at UVA versus potentially $7,600 less in total debt. That's a reasonable trade-off, especially since both programs place graduates well above national standards. The real win is that UVA's selectivity hasn't inflated debt levels the way it has at some elite schools—your child leaves with engineer-level earnings and manageable loans.