UnisHub University Compass

Chemical Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Chemical engineering is a dynamic field focused on transforming raw materials into valuable products through the application of scientific and mathematical principles. It emphasizes the design, optimization, and analysis of processes that involve chemical, physical, and biological transformations at industrial scales.

  • Chemical Reactors: Study and design of systems where chemical reactions occur, focusing on efficiency, safety, and scalability in industrial settings.
  • Kinetic Systems: Analysis of reaction rates and mechanisms to predict and control the behavior of chemical transformations over time.
  • Electrochemical Systems: Exploration of processes involving electron transfer, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysis for energy and material production.
  • Energy Conservation Processes: Development of strategies and technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste in industrial operations.
  • Heat and Mass Transfer Systems: Investigation of how heat and matter move through materials and systems, critical for process design and control.
  • Separation Processes: Application of techniques such as distillation, filtration, and membrane separation to isolate and purify substances.
  • Corrosion Analysis: Evaluation of material degradation in harsh environments to enhance equipment longevity and safety.
  • Particle Abrasion and Flow Dynamics: Study of solid particle behavior and interactions within fluid systems to prevent wear and optimize transport.
  • Energy Loss Modeling: Quantification and mitigation of inefficiencies in energy systems to improve overall process performance.
  • Pollution Control and Environmental Impact Assessment: Integration of sustainable practices to minimize emissions and manage waste in chemical production.
  • Fluid Mechanics: Understanding the behavior of liquids and gases in motion, essential for designing pipelines, reactors, and processing equipment.

Chemical Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

10,624
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
190
Universities & Colleges
3
Career Pathways

Chemical Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Chemical Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Chemical Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 270,580 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 $167,740 $111,450 - $239,200 210,340 $80.64
Chemical Engineers 17-2041 $121,860 $78,520 - $182,150 20,330 $58.59
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 $106,120 $59,790 - $200,650 39,910 N/A

Salary Comparison

Chemical Engineering Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $109,420 in Florida to $165,475 in California—a 51% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 270,580 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Chemical Engineering by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Chemical Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Chemical Engineering is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (261 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (243 graduates), Ohio State University, Main Campus (217 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (204 graduates), and Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (191 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 8,988 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Admissions Location Control Website
Texas A & M University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
261 SAT: 1140-1380
ACT: 25-31
College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
North Carolina State University (NC State)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
243 SAT: 1300-1460
ACT: 28-32
Raleigh, North Carolina Public ncsu.edu
Ohio State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
217 SAT: 1330-1480
ACT: 29-32
Columbus, Ohio Public osu.edu
Purdue University (PU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
204 SAT: 1190-1460
ACT: 27-34
West Lafayette, Indiana Public purdue.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
191 SAT: 1330-1530
ACT: 28-34
Atlanta, Georgia Public gatech.edu
University of California (UCB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
179 N/A Berkeley, California Public berkeley.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
177 SAT: 1270-1510
ACT: 29-34
Champaign, Illinois Public illinois.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
174 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33
Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
165 SAT: 1220-1400
ACT: 27-32
University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
University of Florida (UF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
158 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 28-33
Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
157 SAT: 1490-1570
ACT: 34-35
New York, New York Private columbia.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
151 N/A Tempe, Arizona Public asu.edu
Colorado School of Mines
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
150 SAT: 1320-1470
ACT: 29-33
Golden, Colorado Public mines.edu
Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
148 SAT: 1530-1580
ACT: 34-35
Baltimore, Maryland Private jhu.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
145 SAT: 1310-1480
ACT: 27-31
Minneapolis, Minnesota Public twin-cities.umn.edu
The University of Alabama (UA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
140 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 24-31
Tuscaloosa, Alabama Public ua.edu
University of Michigan (U‑M)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
135 SAT: 1350-1530
ACT: 31-34
Ann Arbor, Michigan Public umich.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
134 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32
Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
University of Delaware (UD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
128 SAT: 1200-1360
ACT: 27-31
Newark, Delaware Public udel.edu
Northeastern University (NU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
124 SAT: 1460-1550
ACT: 33-35
Boston, Massachusetts Private northeastern.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
119 SAT: 1150-1360
ACT: 24-29
Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
University of California (UCSD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
114 N/A La Jolla, California Public ucsd.edu
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
108 SAT: 1150-1378
ACT: 25-31
Rolla, Missouri Public mst.edu
Oregon State University (OSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
101 N/A Corvallis, Oregon Public oregonstate.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRM)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
101 N/A Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Public uprm.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
100 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-28
Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
University of California (UCLA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
99 N/A Los Angeles, California Public ucla.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
99 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-32
Buffalo, New York Public buffalo.edu
University of Pittsburgh
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 SAT: 1270-1450
ACT: 29-33
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Public pitt.edu
University of Washington (UW)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
98 N/A Seattle, Washington Public washington.edu
Auburn University (AU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
97 SAT: 1240-1380
ACT: 25-31
Auburn, Alabama Public auburn.edu
Rutgers University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
97 SAT: 1270-1480
ACT: 28-33
New Brunswick, New Jersey Public newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
97 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private cmu.edu
The University of Tennessee
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
93 SAT: 1190-1340
ACT: 25-31
Knoxville, Tennessee Public utk.edu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
91 SAT: 1510-1580
ACT: 34-36
Cambridge, Massachusetts Private web.mit.edu
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
89 SAT: 1240-1420
ACT: 27-32
Blacksburg, Virginia Public vt.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
87 SAT: 1290-1450
ACT: 28-32
Provo, Utah Private byu.edu
Michigan Technological University (MTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
86 SAT: 1120-1330
ACT: 25-31
Houghton, Michigan Public mtu.edu
Cornell University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
86 SAT: 1480-1560
ACT: 33-35
Ithaca, New York Private cornell.edu
University of Notre Dame (ND)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
85 SAT: 1440-1540
ACT: 33-35
Notre Dame, Indiana Private nd.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
84 SAT: 1230-1420
ACT: 28-33
Boulder, Colorado Public colorado.edu
Texas Tech University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
84 SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 22-28
Lubbock, Texas Public ttu.edu
Iowa State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
81 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 21-28
Ames, Iowa Public iastate.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
79 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 24-29
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Public lsu.edu
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
79 SAT: 1210-1470
ACT: 25-32
Newark, New Jersey Public njit.edu
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
77 N/A Worcester, Massachusetts Private wpi.edu
University of Akron
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
77 SAT: 950-1190
ACT: 18-25
Akron, Ohio Public uakron.edu
University of Utah (U of U)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
77 SAT: 1180-1398
ACT: 22-29
Salt Lake City, Utah Public utah.edu
Clemson University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
75 SAT: 1230-1390
ACT: 28-32
Clemson, South Carolina Public clemson.edu
University of California (UCD)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
72 N/A Davis, California Public ucdavis.edu
University of California (UCI)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
72 N/A Irvine, California Public uci.edu
University of Kansas (KU)
Bachelor's
Master's
72 SAT: 1050-1290
ACT: 21-27
Lawrence, Kansas Public ku.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
72 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 26-31
East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
71 SAT: 1180-1350
ACT: 26-30
Lowell, Massachusetts Public uml.edu
University of Arizona
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
70 SAT: 1160-1420
ACT: 21-30
Tucson, Arizona Public arizona.edu
Colorado State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
70 N/A Fort Collins, Colorado Public colostate.edu
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
70 SAT: 1330-1500
ACT: 30-34
Troy, New York Private rpi.edu
Drexel University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
70 SAT: 1230-1430
ACT: 27-33
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private drexel.edu
University of California (UCSB)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
69 N/A Santa Barbara, California Public ucsb.edu
Princeton University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
69 SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 34-35
Princeton, New Jersey Private princeton.edu
Montana State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
68 SAT: 1060-1270
ACT: 20-27
Bozeman, Montana Public montana.edu
University of California (UCR)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
67 N/A Riverside, California Public ucr.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
67 SAT: 1210-1420
ACT: 29-33
Storrs, Connecticut Public uconn.edu
California State Polytechnic University (CPP)
Bachelor's
66 N/A Pomona, California Public cpp.edu
Northwestern University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
65 SAT: 1490-1560
ACT: 33-35
Evanston, Illinois Private northwestern.edu
New York University (NYU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
64 SAT: 1480-1570
ACT: 33-35
New York, New York Private nyu.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
63 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 21-28
Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
University of Virginia (UVA)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
63 SAT: 1410-1530
ACT: 32-34
Charlottesville, Virginia Public virginia.edu
University of South Florida (USF)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
62 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 24-29
Tampa, Florida Public usf.edu
Rice University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
62 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-36
Houston, Texas Private rice.edu
Stanford University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
62 SAT: 1510-1580
ACT: 34-35
Stanford, California Private stanford.edu
University of Toledo (UToledo)
Bachelor's
Master's
61 SAT: 1050-1300
ACT: 22-28
Toledo, Ohio Public utoledo.edu
Villanova University
Bachelor's
Master's
61 SAT: 1400-1510
ACT: 32-34
Villanova, Pennsylvania Private villanova.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
59 SAT: 1120-1340
ACT: 25-32
Chicago, Illinois Public uic.edu
Washington University in St Louis (WashU)
Bachelor's
Master's
58 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 33-35
Saint Louis, Missouri Private wustl.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
57 SAT: 1180-1380
ACT: 26-32
Columbia, South Carolina Public sc.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Bachelor's
Master's
55 N/A Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
University of Maryland (UMCP)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
53 SAT: 1370-1520
ACT: 32-35
College Park, Maryland Public umd.edu
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
53 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 29-33
Amherst, Massachusetts Public umass.edu
Mississippi State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
52 SAT: 1110-1410
ACT: 21-29
Mississippi State, Mississippi Public msstate.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
52 SAT: 1030-1240
ACT: 20-27
Stillwater, Oklahoma Public okstate.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
51 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31
Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
University of Minnesota (UMD)
Bachelor's
Master's
51 SAT: 1128-1335
ACT: 23-28
Duluth, Minnesota Public d.umn.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
51 SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 23-29
Columbia, Missouri Public missouri.edu
Lehigh University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
50 SAT: 1350-1490
ACT: 31-33
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Private lehigh.edu
Washington State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
50 N/A Pullman, Washington Public wsu.edu
University of Southern California (USC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
49 SAT: 1440-1550
ACT: 32-35
Los Angeles, California Private usc.edu
Clarkson University (Clarkson)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
49 SAT: 1198-1390
ACT: 26-31
Potsdam, New York Private clarkson.edu
Tennessee Technological University (TTU)
Bachelor's
Master's
49 SAT: 1020-1250
ACT: 20-27
Cookeville, Tennessee Public tntech.edu
University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette)
Bachelor's
48 SAT: 1120-1255
ACT: 23-27
Lafayette, Louisiana Public louisiana.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
48 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 20-27
Kalamazoo, Michigan Public wmich.edu
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
47 SAT: 1430-1540
ACT: 32-35
Cleveland, Ohio Private case.edu
University of Maryland (UMBC)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
46 SAT: 1220-1410
ACT: 23-30
Baltimore, Maryland Public umbc.edu
Stevens Institute of Technology
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
46 SAT: 1370-1500
ACT: 31-34
Hoboken, New Jersey Private stevens.edu
University of North Dakota (UND)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
46 N/A Grand Forks, North Dakota Public und.edu
University of Iowa
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
45 SAT: 1130-1320
ACT: 22-28
Iowa City, Iowa Public uiowa.edu
Kansas State University (K‑State)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
44 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 20-27
Manhattan, Kansas Public k-state.edu
University of Maine (UMaine)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
44 N/A Orono, Maine Public umaine.edu
Cleveland State University (CSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
44 ACT: 17-25 Cleveland, Ohio Public csuohio.edu
Ohio University (OHIO)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
44 SAT: 1100-1290
ACT: 22-28
Athens, Ohio Public ohio.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Chemical Engineering programs

How much can I earn with a Chemical Engineering degree?

Salaries for Chemical Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Chemical Engineers earn around $121,860. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $165,475 compared to $109,420 in Florida. Approximately 270,580 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Chemical Engineering programs?

Currently 190 accredited institutions offer Chemical Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (261 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (243 graduates), and Ohio State University, Main Campus (217 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Chemical Engineering growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 7,743 in 2010 to a peak of 13,309 in 2020, before declining slightly to 10,624 in 2023-24. This represents a 37% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Chemical Engineering degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Chemical Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 270,580 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

Related Engineering Programs

Explore similar degree programs within the Engineering field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.

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