Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's chemical engineering program launches graduates into $86,000 starting salaries—nearly $13,000 above the national median for this field. While that ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, Wisconsin has remarkably strong chemical engineering programs across the board: this sits at the 60th percentile statewide, essentially matching the Wisconsin median. The comparison to Milwaukee School of Engineering's $55,000 median is striking and suggests significant variation even within the state's limited options.

The financial fundamentals work well here. With just under $22,000 in typical debt against those strong starting earnings, graduates face a debt-to-income ratio of 0.26—manageable by any standard. Earnings grow to $93,000 by year four, a solid if not spectacular 8% increase that suggests graduates are settling into stable, well-compensated positions. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes will vary, but the overall picture is consistent.

For families weighing this investment, the value proposition is clear: you're getting top-tier national outcomes at a flagship state university price point. The fact that UW-Madison doesn't dominate the Wisconsin rankings shouldn't concern you—it reflects the state's unusually strong chemical engineering ecosystem overall. This program delivers exactly what you'd hope for from a respected engineering degree at a public university.