Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Santa Barbara and University of California-Los Angeles are the top bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,553, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and University of California-Los Angeles award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in California: 146, 134 and 111 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 California colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 971 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,553 | 146 | 93% | — | $18,155 |
| 2 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,737 | 64 | 83% | — | $14,937 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,680 | 111 | 93% | — | $18,205 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,009 | 55 | 68% | — | $21,812 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,337 | 74 | 86% | — | $16,000 |
| 6 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,245 | 70 | 76% | — | $17,413 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,234 | 53 | 92% | $26,873 | $13,000 |
| 8 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,508 | 134 | 86% | — | $18,157 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,540 | 64 | 87% | — | $18,500 |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,164 | 61 | 69% | — | $16,374 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 146 | $81,553 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 134 | $59,508 |
| 3 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 111 | $76,680 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 74 | $68,337 |
| 5 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 70 | $68,245 |
| 6 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 64 | $57,540 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 64 | $79,737 |
| 8 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 61 | $45,164 |
| 9 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 55 | $69,009 |
| 10 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 55 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 California colleges offering Chemical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Public | 46 |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
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 California colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (146 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (134 graduates a year) and University of California-Los Angeles (111 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 California colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
What is the best college for Chemical Engineering in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $81,553, College Scorecard. University of California-Santa Barbara and University of California-Los Angeles follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 146 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemical Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $81,553. Compare it against graduates a year, 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).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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