Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University vs California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
32.7x
$25,984 tuition
26.2x
$29,756 tuition
Out-of-State
32.7x
$25,984 tuition
10.1x
$77,276 tuition
$77,565/yr starting · Private nonprofit
$69,009/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.7x 26.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 32.7x 10.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,756
Year 1 Earnings $77,565 $69,009
10-Year Earnings $849K $781K
Median Debt $14,680 $21,322
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.3 months 3.7 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 73/100 71/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 73.7%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (48% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Chemical Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Chemical Engineering graduates.

Brigham Young University California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $29,756
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $77,276
10-Year Projected Earnings $849K $781K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 32.7x 26.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 32.7x 10.1x
5-Year Salary Growth +41% +50%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Chemical Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,181K $849K $576K $1,138K $781K $512K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 45.5x 32.7x 22.2x 38.2x 26.2x 17.2x
DegreeWorth Score 76 73 67 74 71 65

For the full AI analysis of Chemical Engineering career paths, see the Brigham Young University or California State Polytechnic University-Pomona program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Chemical Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$3,772
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$8,556/yr
Brigham Young University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
32.7x / 26.2x
Out-of-state: 32.7x / 10.1x

Career Paths

Chemical Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Chemical engineers $121,860 1,100 +2.6% 46%
Engineers, all other $117,750 9,300 +2.1% 46%
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950 1,300 +5.2% 59%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%

Explore Each Program

More Chemical Engineering Comparisons

Chemical Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Chemical Engineering: Brigham Young University or California State Polytechnic University-Pomona?
Brigham Young University scores 73/100 while California State Polytechnic University-Pomona scores 71/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Chemical Engineering?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 32.7x vs California State Polytechnic University-Pomona's 26.2x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Brigham Young University and California State Polytechnic University-Pomona compare on Chemical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $77,565 at Brigham Young University vs $69,009 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $848,851 vs $781,006 — a difference of $67,845.
How much does Chemical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $29,756 at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. Median debt at graduation is $14,680 vs $21,322. Both programs lead to the same Chemical Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.