Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Institute of Technology are the top bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Northwestern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,709, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago and Northwestern University award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Illinois: 149, 136 and 60 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Illinois colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 424 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 4 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 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,709 | 60 | 95% | $14,799 | $16,500 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,440 | 149 | 85% | — | $22,850 |
| 3 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,526 | 23 | 75% | $19,899 | $26,747 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,377 | 56 | 62% | — | $23,875 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Illinois
Top 5 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 149 | $77,440 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 136 | Not reported |
| 3 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 60 | $80,709 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 56 | $58,377 |
| 5 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 23 | $64,526 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (149 graduates a year), University of Chicago (136 graduates a year) and Northwestern University (60 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Illinois colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
What is the best college for Chemical Engineering in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Northwestern University leads among bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $80,709, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Institute of Technology follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 149 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemical Engineering program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern University tops the list at $80,709. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemical Engineers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Illinois is $123,570 (median $121,560), across about 520 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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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