Chemical Engineering

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$72,906

Median Earnings

$96,810

Schools Offering

160

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $91,777Median: $96,81075th: $102,119

Best Schools for Chemical Engineering by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA · Private	99	$122,093	$20,111	$15,209	A
2	Vanderbilt University TN · Private	97	$121,641	$15,846	N/A	-
3	University of California-Berkeley CA · Public	97	$121,027	$13,481	$18,155	A
4	Cornell University NY · Private	96	$116,165	$28,690	$14,361	A
5	Lafayette College PA · Private	92	$115,726	$34,433	$17,000	A
6	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$115,423	$19,857	$19,844	A
7	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College LA · Public	76	$114,226	$19,151	$20,500	B+
8	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$113,614	$26,780	$19,000	A
9	Rice University TX · Private	98	$113,605	$13,370	$13,178	A
10	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$113,317	$16,109	$14,937	A
11	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$111,073	$21,315	$18,135	A
12	Northwestern University IL · Private	94	$111,040	$29,167	$16,500	A
13	Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private	97	$110,378	$31,944	$23,125	A
14	University of Houston TX · Public	80	$110,184	$14,276	$20,000	A
15	University of Pennsylvania PA · Private	97	$109,884	$28,699	$20,500	B+
16	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$109,607	$6,541	$20,050	A
17	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$109,551	$14,091	$19,875	B+
18	North Carolina A & T State University NC · Public	32	$109,537	$10,846	$26,000	B+
19	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$109,405	$13,138	$21,250	B+
20	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$108,066	$12,548	$18,205	A
21	Washington University in St Louis MO · Private	96	$107,843	$21,786	$19,500	B+
22	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$107,767	$30,915	$27,000	B+
23	University of Mississippi MS · Public	65	$107,548	$13,314	$22,750	B+
24	Auburn University AL · Public	76	$106,726	$24,323	$23,104	B+
25	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$106,011	$24,953	$25,350	B+
26	University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public	95	$105,724	$21,565	$17,733	A
27	North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public	87	$104,705	$17,303	$22,244	B+
28	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$104,514	$14,600	$21,500	B+
29	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$104,317	$14,355	$22,850	B+
30	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$104,104	$12,116	$27,000	B+
31	University of Delaware DE · Public	86	$103,910	$17,799	$26,058	B+
32	Kettering University MI · Private	88	$103,868	$34,660	$29,000	B
33	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$103,728	$32,875	$26,831	B+
34	Villanova University PA · Private	89	$103,601	$43,756	$27,000	B
35	University of Rhode Island RI · Public	79	$103,525	$21,440	$27,000	B
36	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona CA · Public	89	$102,849	$11,531	$21,812	B+
37	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$102,649	$14,741	$16,000	A
38	Michigan State University MI · Public	79	$102,223	$19,680	$26,573	B+
39	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$102,149	$15,678	$23,250	B+
40	University of Louisiana at Lafayette LA · Public	47	$102,119	$13,530	$22,000	B+
41	University of Arizona AZ · Public	75	$101,815	$16,674	$21,250	B+
42	Brigham Young University UT · Private	94	$101,726	$15,564	$13,980	A
43	Lehigh University PA · Private	93	$101,720	$36,931	$27,000	B+
44	University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public	91	$101,676	$17,354	$21,947	B+
45	University of Tulsa OK · Private	83	$101,626	$15,000	N/A	-
46	University of Louisville KY · Public	58	$101,068	$17,988	$21,500	B+
47	Lamar University TX · Public	53	$101,018	$9,366	$20,019	A
48	The University of Alabama AL · Public	64	$100,857	$22,420	$23,003	B+
49	Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ · Public	83	$100,729	$24,406	$25,000	B
50	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$100,646	$32,740	$13,000	A

Exceptional Value

Is Chemical Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Chemical Engineering is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $72,906 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.

160 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is Carnegie Mellon University, where graduates earn $110,378 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Chemical Engineering All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Chemical Engineering

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Chemical Engineering by Earnings

Is Chemical Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

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