Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lehigh University, Pennsylvania State University and University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Lehigh University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,435, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Pennsylvania: 172, 98 and 85 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Pennsylvania colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 671 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 9 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 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,435 | 49 | 88% | $26,912 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,218 | 172 | 86% | — | $26,831 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,721 | 64 | 97% | $22,055 | $20,500 |
| 4 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,602 | 22 | 88% | $20,396 | $17,000 |
| 5 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,528 | 62 | 78% | $36,004 | $30,860 |
| 6 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,072 | 85 | 85% | — | $26,548 |
| 7 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,379 | 68 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $80,653 | 19 | 86% | $30,675 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Widener University Chester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $71,160 | 11 | 68% | $29,049 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 172 | $82,218 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 98 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 85 | $73,072* |
| 4 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 68 | $72,379 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 64 | $81,721 |
| 6 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 62 | $77,528 |
| 7 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 49 | $82,435 |
| 8 | Lafayette College Easton Private not-for-profit | 22 | $79,602 |
| 9 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 19 | $80,653 |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown Public | 11 | $73,072* |
ShowHide the other 2 Pennsylvania colleges offering Chemical Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (172 graduates a year), Carnegie Mellon University (98 graduates a year) and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (85 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Pennsylvania colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
What is the best college for Chemical Engineering in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Lehigh University leads among bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,435, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University and University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemical Engineering program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lehigh University tops the list at $82,435. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemical Engineers earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Pennsylvania is $127,520 (median $116,970), across about 810 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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