Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis

Washington University's chemical engineering program produces puzzling results for such a selective institution. Starting salaries of $69,801 lag behind both the national median ($72,974) and Missouri S&T's $78,369—despite WashU's 12% admission rate and sky-high average SAT of 1530. Among Missouri's three chemical engineering programs, this ranks 40th percentile, essentially tied with the less selective University of Missouri-Columbia.

The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—demands caution here, but even accounting for statistical noise, these numbers don't align with the school's prestige. Students do carry reasonable debt at $19,500 (below Missouri's median), creating a manageable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio. Earnings do grow solidly to $92,896 by year four, suggesting the degree eventually delivers value. But parents should wonder why elite-credential graduates aren't commanding higher starting salaries in a field where top programs routinely place students above $80,000.

This may reflect WashU's particular industry connections, regional salary differences, or simply statistical flukes from the tiny sample. Before committing to a school this competitive and expensive, verify whether recent graduates landed at the companies and locations you'd expect from a top-tier program. The debt is manageable, but you're not seeing the earnings premium that typically justifies attending a school this selective.