Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers come from a tiny sample—but they tell an intriguing story about an accessible program punching well above its weight. UW-Stevens Point's chemical engineering graduates earn $84,047 their first year out, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally and essentially tied with UW-Madison's output despite Stevens Point's 90% admission rate and significantly less competitive student profile. That's remarkable. The $22,565 in median debt translates to just three months of earnings, creating one of the cleanest financial pictures you'll find in engineering.

The catch is the limited Wisconsin comparison pool—only three schools offer this degree in-state, and Milwaukee School of Engineering's much lower median of $55,333 may reflect different industry pathways rather than program quality. What matters more is that Stevens Point grads start $11,000 ahead of the national median for chemical engineers while carrying typical debt loads. For a family seeking engineering credentials without the pressure-cooker atmosphere or steep selectivity of flagship programs, this represents genuine value.

The small sample size means individual career outcomes can swing these numbers dramatically year to year, so verify current placement rates directly with the department. But the fundamentals work: strong starting salary, manageable debt, and an open-access entry point to a lucrative field.