Best colleges for Chemical Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Chemical Engineering by graduate earnings are Rice University ($87,830), The University of Texas at Austin ($87,365) and Lamar University ($87,284), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Rice University (Houston, TX): $87,830, 37 graduates a year
- The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX): $87,365, 185 graduates a year
- Lamar University (Beaumont, TX): $87,284, 25 graduates a year
- University of Florida (Gainesville, FL): $87,164, 116 graduates a year
- Texas A&M University - College Station (College Station, TX): $86,176, 233 graduates a year
Compare 189 U.S. colleges offering Chemical Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 49 states.
Chemical Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,479 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.07 and the Chemical Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Chemical Engineering programs
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 chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to develop efficient methods for transforming raw materials into valuable products.
Students in Chemical Engineering gain essential skills in science, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically covers topics such as engineering design, production processes, and safety procedures, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to tackle complex engineering challenges.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Rice University Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $87,830 | 37 | 95% | $13,264 | $13,178 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,365 | 185 | 89% | — | $19,844 |
| 3 | Lamar University Beaumont, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,284 | 25 | 37% | — | $20,019 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,164 | 116 | 91% | — | $20,050 |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,176 | 233 | 84% | — | $18,135 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,945 | 113 | 90% | — | $21,947 |
| 7 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,847 | 205 | 94% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,772 | 58 | 96% | — | $17,733 |
| 9 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,578 | 123 | 95% | $17,613 | $14,361 |
| 10 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,468 | 105 | 65% | — | $20,000 |
| 11 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,706 | 61 | 87% | $27,976 | $23,250 |
| 12 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,377 | 92 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 13 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,466 | 44 | 68% | — | $25,875 |
| 14 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,435 | 49 | 88% | $26,912 | $27,000 |
| 15 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $82,394 | 47 | 78% | $36,775 | $24,500 |
| 16 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,382 | 90 | 86% | — | $25,350 |
| 17 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,372 | 105 | 75% | — | $21,333 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,218 | 172 | 86% | — | $26,831 |
| 19 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,217 | 115 | 82% | — | $23,104 |
| 20 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,880 | 116 | 91% | $18,925 | $27,000 |
| 21 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,777 | 70 | 89% | — | $23,250 |
| 22 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,721 | 64 | 97% | $22,055 | $20,500 |
| 23 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,553 | 146 | 93% | — | $18,155 |
| 24 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,492 | 234 | 85% | — | $22,244 |
| 25 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,105 | 251 | 83% | — | $21,500 |
Specializations within Chemical Engineering
3 of the 3 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.07 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 49 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2041, Chemical Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Chemical Engineering can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated 1,100 annual job openings. The median wage for chemical engineers is $121,860, and a typical entry-level position requires a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Chemical Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.07.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.07 (Chemical Engineering) maps to 5 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 17-2031 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers |
| 17-2041 | Chemical Engineersprimary |
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Other |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Chemical Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
- Troubleshoot problems with chemical manufacturing processes.
- Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
- Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Design and plan layout of equipment.
- Prepare estimate of production costs and production progress reports for management.
Common questions
What is Chemical Engineering?+
Chemical Engineering is the study of the design and operation of chemical plants, focusing on converting raw materials into useful products.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for Chemical Engineering?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 1,100 annual openings.
What is the median salary for chemical engineers?+
The median salary for chemical engineers is $121,860.
How much do Chemical Engineering graduates earn?+
Chemical Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $73,479, College Scorecard (2019); the Chemical Engineers occupation pays about $129,980 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Chemical Engineering?+
Chemical Engineering maps to CIP 14.07 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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