Chemical Engineering Degree in Evansville, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Evansville, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$103K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2 yrs
in Evansville
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Evansville, IN Overview
Evansville, Indiana (pop. 117,298) has 10 colleges offering Chemical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $974/month. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Evansville is approximately $70,520.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,448/yr
Private Tuition
$42,316/yr
Room & Board
$11,425/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,482/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
57%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Evansville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Evansville's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Evansville adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Evansville
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Evansville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,448 | Private avg: $42,316
Evansville avg aid: $12,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,492
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$40,420
vs HS diploma in Evansville
ROI Payback Period
2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Evansville
$823,508
Lifetime earnings premium ($903,000) minus total education cost ($79,492)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Evansville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Evansville for Chemical Engineering
University of Evansville
private
$42,316/yr
$169,264 total
University of Southern Indiana
public
$8,448/yr
$33,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Evansville
Evansville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Evansville 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
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
Bloomington, IN
$68K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$76K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$70K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Evansville
Petroleum Engineering
$43K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$69K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Evansville — 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 Evansville.