Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Cornell University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Clarkson University are the top bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in New York by graduate earnings. Cornell University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,578, College Scorecard. Columbia University, Cornell University and University at Buffalo award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in New York: 147, 123 and 96 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 New York colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 833 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 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,578 | 123 | 95% | $17,613 | $14,361 |
| 2 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,263 | 73 | 84% | $28,900 | $25,332 |
| 3 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,887 | 49 | 75% | $27,281 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,984 | 39 | 70% | $28,133 | $30,750 |
| 5 | Manhattan University Riverdale Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,333 | 31 | 64% | $26,807 | $26,503 |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,868 | 40 | 76% | — | $24,797 |
| 7 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,864 | 28 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,028 | 39 | 85% | $25,874 | $23,000 |
| 9 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,873 | 96 | 75% | — | $23,161 |
| 10 | CUNY City College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,450 | 28 | 57% | — | $14,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in New York
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 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 147 | $55,154 |
| 2 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 123 | $85,578 |
| 3 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 96 | $67,873 |
| 4 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 77 | $60,392 |
| 5 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy Private not-for-profit | 73 | $78,263 |
| 6 | Clarkson University Potsdam Private not-for-profit | 49 | $75,887 |
| 7 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 40 | $72,868 |
| 8 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Private not-for-profit | 39 | $73,984 |
| 9 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit | 39 | $71,028 |
| 10 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York Private not-for-profit | 32 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 New York colleges offering Chemical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 30 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 28 |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Syracuse | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
Columbia University (147 graduates a year), Cornell University (123 graduates a year) and University at Buffalo (96 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 New York colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
What is the best college for Chemical Engineering in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Cornell University leads among bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $85,578, College Scorecard. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Clarkson University follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia University is the largest, with 147 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemical Engineering program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Cornell University tops the list at $85,578. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemical Engineers earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Chemical Engineers in New York is $120,480 (median $129,060), across about 540 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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