Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Vanderbilt University and Tennessee Technological University are the top bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,302, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Technological University and Vanderbilt University award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Tennessee: 65, 53 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Tennessee colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 180 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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,302 | 65 | 74% | — | $22,375 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $75,639 | 41 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 3 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,300 | 53 | 58% | — | $13,500 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,952 | 20 | 50% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Tennessee
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 65 | $76,302 |
| 2 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 53 | $60,300 |
| 3 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 41 | $75,639 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 20 | $57,952 |
| 5 | Christian Brothers University Memphis Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (65 graduates a year), Tennessee Technological University (53 graduates a year) and Vanderbilt University (41 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Tennessee colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
What is the best college for Chemical Engineering in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads among bachelor's Chemical Engineering programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $76,302, College Scorecard. Vanderbilt University and Tennessee Technological University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemical Engineering program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $76,302. 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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