Best Chemical Engineering institutions in California, ranked by earnings
Chemical Engineering is a dynamic field of engineering focused on the design and operation of chemical plants and the optimization of production processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying principles from…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,553 | 179 | 93% | — | $18,155 |
| 2 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,737 | 69 | 83% | — | $14,937 |
| 3 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,680 | 99 | 93% | — | $18,205 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,009 | 66 | 68% | — | $21,812 |
| 5 | University of California - Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,337 | 72 | 86% | — | $16,000 |
| 6 | University of California - Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,245 | 67 | 76% | — | $17,413 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,234 | 57 | 92% | $26,873 | $13,000 |
| 8 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,508 | 114 | 86% | — | $18,157 |
| 9 | University of California - Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,540 | 72 | 87% | — | $18,500 |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,164 | 55 | 69% | — | $16,374 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in California.
Which Chemical Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of California - Berkeley tops the list at $81,553. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Chemical Engineering program?+
Chemical Engineering is a dynamic field of engineering focused on the design and operation of chemical plants and the optimization of production processes. This program is ideal for students interested in applying principles from…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Chemical Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.6% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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