What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego?

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, San Diego we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, San Diego have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, 50% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Chemical Engineering graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego?
• What do Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, San Diego do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego?
• What are the best colleges for Chemical Engineering?

View a random Chemical Engineering graduate from University of California, San Diego and our analysis:

Relevance score: 26% We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2017 from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Operations Engineering Intern Axonics Modulation Technologies Jun 2018 - Sep 2018 The Operations Engineering Intern position may make use of some engineering principles learned in a Chemical Engineering program, but it is not directly related to the core qualifications of the degree. Podcast and Outreach Manager Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG) Oct 2020 - Mar 2021 The role of Podcast and Outreach Manager does not utilize skills or knowledge from Chemical Engineering, as it focuses more on communication and outreach than on engineering principles. Multimedia Director GPS-BIOMED Jul 2019 - Aug 2021 As Multimedia Director, the job does not involve any Chemical Engineering knowledge or skills, focusing instead on media and content management. Website Manager and Young Professional Committee Chair DeviceAlliance Oct 2020 - Jan 2024 The Website Manager role primarily centers around web management and does not apply Chemical Engineering skills or knowledge. Biomedical Engineering - Assistant Specialist UC Irvine Jun 2022 - 2023 The Biomedical Engineering Assistant Specialist position is directly relevant as it incorporates chemical engineering knowledge in a biomedical context, essential for performing the job's functions. Program Director UC Irvine Aug 2022 - Jan 2024 The Program Director position at UC Irvine likely involves significant application of Chemical Engineering principles, especially if the role includes managing engineering-related programs or research initiatives. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master of Science - MS UC Irvine 2017 - 2021 Doctor of Philosophy - PhD UC Irvine 2018 - 2022 ABOUT Data-driven and evidence-based scientist with over 5-years of data handling, programming, and data-visualization especially for problem-solving and operational evaluation.* Highly motivated and capable young professional interested in the medical device/tech industry* Excellent organizational and planning skills especially for oversight on project completion and mid to large participant events.* Experienced team leader and active in mentoring when opportunity presents itself.* Hobbies as creative outlets with particular skill in constructing figures, infographics and diagrams that translates complex sciences to general audience. Additional skills in character design, video and audio producing.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Tutor
• Manufacturing Engineer
• (M)IST Facilitator, Transit Operations
• Temporary Professional Driver
• First Notice of Loss Processor
• Triage Examiner
• Senior Triage Examiner
• Indemnity Claims Examiner
• Nepal Air Mask Design Project
• Junior Engineer

Looking at the job trajectories of graduates from the University of California, San Diego who studied Chemical Engineering, it seems like they ended up in a pretty diverse range of roles. Common positions include Engineer roles in various sectors like pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and environmental agencies. Many graduates have found their way into positions like Project Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, or even Research Associates, where they can actually apply the technical skills and principles they learned in their degree. These roles tend to be directly relevant and require a solid understanding of chemistry and engineering principles, which is awesome to see!

However, not everyone's job journey aligns perfectly with their Chemical Engineering background. Some grads ended up in positions like Business Manager, Tutor, or even Software Engineer roles, which don’t really tap into the core skills of Chemical Engineering. It looks like while a decent portion of these alumni are using their education in relevant ways, there are also quite a few who have chosen paths that might not make use of their specialized knowledge in chemical processes. So, while the degree opens up a lot of doors, the relevance of the job to Chemical Engineering can really vary from person to person.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemical Engineering graduates (this is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, San Diego):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, San Diego have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, if you look at the career paths of Chemical Engineering graduates from UC San Diego, you'll find that many of them land pretty solid jobs right after they finish school. A lot of them start off in engineering roles, like formulation associates or project engineers, often in industries directly related to their degree, such as biotechnology, manufacturing, and even aerospace. For instance, the grads from 2010 to 2016 seem to have transitioned smoothly from their entry-level positions into more advanced roles, showcasing a nice trajectory into senior engineering or managerial positions over just 5 to 10 years. Companies like Northrop Grumman, Tesla, and Abbott appear to be popular choices for these graduates, which definitely supports the idea that they’re doing well in relevant fields.

However, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Some graduates, especially those who entered earlier (like those from 2014), have taken on roles that might seem a bit disconnected from Chemical Engineering, such as tutors or in claims examining. While these jobs can still be valuable in terms of skills and experience, they don’t necessarily align with the technical training they received. Overall, though, a significant chunk of these graduates seems to have carved out successful careers in industries that leverage their engineering background, and likely continue to advance in their respective fields as they gain more experience. So, it looks like a solid choice for many!

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from University of California, San Diego?

A Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at UC San Diego can be pretty challenging, to be honest. The coursework is a mix of heavy-duty math, chemistry, and physics, plus some hands-on lab work, which means you’ll be tackling some complex concepts that require a lot of critical thinking. It’s definitely on the harder side compared to average degrees, especially with all the rigorous problem sets and the need to really get comfortable with technical material. But, if you enjoy science and math and are willing to put in the work, it's totally doable! Just be ready for some late nights studying and collaborating with classmates, because this major isn’t for the faint-hearted!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering.

Do Chemical Engineering graduates from University of California, San Diego tend to make good money?

Alright, so looking at these Chemical Engineering grads from UC San Diego, it seems like they're doing pretty well for themselves! The one who started at Quantimetrix and climbed up to Project Engineer at Kite Pharma definitely shows a strong upward trajectory, and jobs like Principal Electromechanical Engineer at Northrop Grumman and Engineer at Tesla usually come with good salaries. Even the folks who started as tutors have found solid roles in reputable companies. While you can bet they didn’t all start off making big bucks—entry-level positions can be on the lower side—the variety of roles and companies they're involved with suggests that many of them are likely making decent salaries now. Overall, it looks like they’ve managed to carve out successful career paths!

What buzzwords do Chemical Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering (this is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of California, San Diego). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemical Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemical Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
Northeastern University	91	11
Rochester Institute of Technology	90	10
Clarkson University	90	10
University of Cincinnati	89	16
Oklahoma State University	88	10
Purdue University	87	20
University of Arkansas	87	13
North Carolina State University	86	22
Arizona State University	85	13
University of Wisconsin-Madison	85	13
University of Delaware	85	13
University at Buffalo	83	10
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	83	13
University of California, Berkeley	82	12
Villanova University	82	10
Montana State University-Bozeman	82	13
Louisiana State University	81	15
The Ohio State University	80	36
Texas A&M University	79	37
Brigham Young University	79	14
University of Arizona	79	15
University of Oklahoma	79	13
University of Massachusetts Lowell	79	12
Michigan Technological University	78	22
Auburn University	76	20
Iowa State University	75	18
Georgia Institute of Technology	74	11
University of California, Davis	73	20
University of Houston	73	17
University of Pittsburgh	73	21
University of Virginia	73	12
Michigan State University	72	24
Oregon State University	72	20
University of Dayton	72	12
Penn State University	71	21
The University of Texas at Austin	71	24
University of Washington	71	10
University of Iowa	71	10
University of Connecticut	70	11
The University of Alabama	69	10
New Jersey Institute of Technology	69	12
Colorado School of Mines	69	21
University of Florida	68	20
Virginia Tech	68	16
Mississippi State University	68	15
University of Notre Dame	68	10
University of Kentucky	67	11
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	67	16
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	66	11
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	65	16
University of Michigan	62	21
The University of Kansas	62	11
Missouri University of Science and Technology	60	14
University of South Florida	58	14
University of California, San Diego	56	12