Chemical Engineering Degree in Bloomington, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Bloomington, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$100K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Bloomington
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Bloomington, IN Overview
While Bloomington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Chemical Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,831/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Bloomington is approximately $68,060.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,948/yr
Private Tuition
$35,439/yr
Room & Board
$12,831/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,996/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
64%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Bloomington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bloomington's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Bloomington adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Bloomington
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Bloomington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,948 | Private avg: $35,439
Bloomington avg aid: $13,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,116
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,010
vs HS diploma in Bloomington
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bloomington
$776,384
Lifetime earnings premium ($871,500) minus total education cost ($95,116)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Bloomington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bloomington for Chemical Engineering
Indiana University Bloomington
public
$10,948/yr
$43,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Bloomington
Bloomington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bloomington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$77K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$84K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$71K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$73K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$86K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$82K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Hammond, IN
$76K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$70K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Bloomington
Petroleum Engineering
$42K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Bloomington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Chemical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Bloomington.