Best colleges for Chemical Engineering in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Washington State University and Tacoma Community College award the most Chemical Engineering degrees and certificates in Washington: 122, 40 and 8 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 Washington colleges offer Chemical Engineering and award 181 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 2 institutions, 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,820 | 40 | 60% | — | $22,500 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $67,624 | 122 | 85% | — | $19,875 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemical Engineering degrees in Washington
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 122 | $67,624 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 40 | $69,820 |
| 3 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 4 | Whatcom Community College Bellingham Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 5 | Clark College Vancouver Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 6 | Green River College Auburn Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemical Engineers (SOC 17-2041).
Top skills
What Chemical Engineers earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemical Engineering programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Chemical Engineering degrees?+
University of Washington-Seattle Campus (122 graduates a year), Washington State University (40 graduates a year) and Tacoma Community College (8 graduates a year) award the most Chemical Engineering degrees and certificates in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 Washington colleges offer Chemical Engineering.
Which Chemical Engineering program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington State University tops the list at $69,820. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemical Engineers earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Chemical Engineers in Washington is $134,910 (median $128,290), across about 650 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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