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# Chemistry of success
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/chemistry-of-success/
- Published: 2026-10-09T02:59:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-09T02:59:18.000Z
- Author: Mukul Verma

LSU boasts one of the nation’s top chemical engineering programs, and the ranking appears to pay off. Five years after graduation, LSU chemical engineering majors earned a median income of 114,226—the third-highest in the SEC, behind only Vanderbilt ($121,461) and the University of Texas at Austin ($115,423).

*RedEye*’s analysis is based on federal earnings data from 2017–18 and 2018–19 compiled by the [HEA Group](https://www.theheagroup.com/blog/earnings-test-data?ref=redeyebr.com), a higher education research firm. The New York Times has made the [data searchable](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/07/your-money/college-degree-earnings-guide.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.HFE.HEKn.x-fGdNc0NBRs&smid=url-share&ref=redeyebr.com), allowing you to compare earnings by major and university.

A college education should be about learning and exploring, but there has been a growing emphasis on how degrees translate into jobs and earnings. And for parents raising math prodigies, take note: Duke University mathematics graduates earned $297,097—the highest median income of any degree program in the nation.

- **LSU top 5 median salaries by degrees (five years after graduation)**
1. Chemical engineering - $114, 226
2. Computer engineering - $106,897
3. Petroleum engineering - $103,421
4. Mechanical engineering - $99,975
5. Electrical engineering - $97,208

**Southern University top 5 median salaries by degrees:**

1. Mechanical Engineering - $92,969
2. Nursing - $86,838
3. Civil engineering - $68,016
4. Computer Science - $58,951
5. Marketing - $56,097
- [Dig into the data](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/07/your-money/college-degree-earnings-guide.html?unlocked%5Farticle%5Fcode=1.HFE.HEKn.x-fGdNc0NBRs&smid=url-share&ref=redeyebr.com)

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