### SUMMARY

 A degree in Chemical Engineering is a valuable choice and ordinarily an obligatory first step for scholars choosing to pursue a career as a senior chemical process engineer, a chemical engineer, or a research and development engineer. Interestingly, nationally, chemical engineering is a fairly common choice coming in at the 42nd most popular degree. In the last year, there were 11,423 chemical engineering graduates. In-state tuition for chemical engineering at private institutions is, on average, 4.3 times more spendy than their public peers.

 There are 180 schools that offer chemical engineering. 180 institutions is on par with other degrees offered in the United States. If you're hoping to immerse yourself with other chemical engineering undergrads, look at universities in California which have more undergrads admitted to chemical engineering than any other state. More generally, the top region to get a degree in chemical engineering is in the Southeast region with [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama), [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus), and [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection for the best conference to major in chemical engineering is the Big Ten Conference with [Ohio State University-Main Campus](/colleges/ohio-state-university-main-campus), [Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus](/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-main-campus), and [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus) representing the conference. That being said, our belief is that the best college for chemical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You may also want to check out our list of [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges).

 The objectively best school is not necessarily the 'best' school for you. There are many more perspectives to consider when choosing institution. Stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food might definitely sway your feelings of which college to attend. At authority.org, we have weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which chemical engineering school has the best college campus, the winner is [Northeastern University](/colleges/northeastern-university). If you are very interested in which college boasts the top campus, we have an entire page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, professor reviews, student reviews, and more so we can evaluate every U.S. major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can find our comprehensive list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our choice of the university with the best student life for chemical engineering is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Curious why? Continue scrolling to find out more about our top selections. Many of our picks might surprise you.

 If cost is a primary influence in your decision on where to go to university, you might be cautious about [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspappears to be the most expensive college for chemical engineering, at least regarding out of state students. We have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspuniversities that could put the expense of [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. Additionally, you may be interested to know that chemical engineering is the 45th most expensive program in the nation, with an average associated cost of $49,500. On a broader scale, the most expensive state for chemical engineering on our list is Pennsylvania with tuition and fees at the primary three institutions amounting to $57,882 at Bucknell University, totalling $55,816 at Carnegie Mellon University, and expenses of $55,816 at Lehigh University. Even more broadly, the most expensive region for chemical engineering is the Mid East region which is best demonstrated with [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york) with a cost of $57,763, [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university) with a cost of $56,550, and [Bucknell University](/colleges/bucknell-university) with a cost of $57,882.

 Our cheapest region for chemical engineering is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Montana State University](/colleges/montana-state-university) with a cost of $23,890, [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790, and [University of Wyoming](/colleges/university-of-wyoming) with a cost of $13,392. In better news, the most affordable university for chemical engineering is [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh). Authority's full list of the most affordable universities can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state students can anticipate paying about $11,400 for a degree in chemical engineering. That cost balloons by a lot to an average of $28,600 for an out-of-state public-school student. Our choice for the university constituting the best value for chemical engineering: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). Here you will see our comprehensive list on the universities we see as being the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. Do know, this section is predicated on being an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when it comes to in-state tuition, but we do not know in which states any one student has residency.

 Earnings for chemical engineering students differ widely, but within two years completing the major students will regularly make around $56,200. While there is much variation in earnings; top earners can bring in up to $97,200. Even right out of school, the minimum earning jobs within the chemical engineering field earn $32,100, which could be worse. The highest earning graduates for chemical engineering have come from [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you are looking for colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The overall diversity of chemical engineering is quite high, being within the 80th percentile of majors nationally. The university with the most composite diversity for chemical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the schools which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Chemical Engineering major stands only within the 36th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, in the 74th percentile. White undergraduates compose the largest share, 52%, of those studying chemical engineering. Additionally, 65% of scholars pursuing a chemical engineering degree are men.

 The median score of chemical engineering's professors is 2.8 stars, a rating which is 30% below the median score for every major; which is a subpar score. If you want the most popular chemical engineering professor nationally, take a look at Karen Nordheden at [University of Kansas](/colleges/university-of-kansas). It may surprise you, but the best rated instructors for chemical engineering by student are found at [University of Kansas](/colleges/university-of-kansas). If we incorporate information other than basic rankings it becomes clear that the college with the overall best professors for chemical engineering is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You will find an explanation of our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the top examples of instructors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult college to get into for chemical engineering is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we have a general list of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we do hope you believe that considering academics from examples primarily derived from superlatives could be said to be the root of many of higher education's fundamental issues. We at Authority encourage you to look at some of our other pages on different topics and explore a few of our insightful background pages on beneficial things to look for as you progress with your college search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Chemical engineering is the 42nd most popular degree in America, with 11,423 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #43 [Information Technology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-information-technology), and narrowly lost to #41 [Hospitality Management](/rankings/best-colleges-for-hospitality-management).

 The degree is offered at a total of 180 colleges across the nation, and is the 113th most widely offered degree. Given that chemical engineering is offered at 42% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that roughly 7/10 of colleges offering chemical engineering are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most chemical engineering graduates, largely led by [The University of Alabama](/colleges/the-university-of-alabama), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) and [University of California-Davis](/colleges/university-of-california-davis).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more chemical engineering graduates than [College of Southern Idaho](/colleges/college-of-southern-idaho), which graduated 243 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study chemical engineering). More students studied chemical engineering as a percentage of total students at [New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology](/colleges/new-mexico-institute-of-mining-and-technology) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Chemical engineering is the 45th most expensive major in America, with a median cost of $49,479 among the top 50 programs (just ahead of #46, [Electrical and Electronics Engineering](rankings/best-colleges-for-electrical-and-electronics-engineering), with a median cost of $49,390).

 The Mid East has the most expensive schools with top-notch chemical engineering programs led by [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york) with an annual cost of $58,920. The most expensive state for chemical engineering is Pennsylvania led by [Bucknell University](/colleges/bucknell-university) and [Carnegie Mellon University](/colleges/carnegie-mellon-university).

 Public schools with solid programs typically charge 76.51% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 41.3% less than your average private school. So, if you're looking into studying at a state school, make sure you qualify for in-state tuition ASAP.

 The most expensive top 25 college for chemical engineering is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo). It costs just $5,790 per year, but it is its chemical engineering program is ranked #71. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable option, [University of Florida](/colleges/university-of-florida)  is probably a good fit for you, ranked #25 with an in-state cost of just $4,477. Another more affordable pick would be #22, [North Carolina State University at Raleigh](/colleges/north-carolina-state-university-at-raleigh) in Wake County, NC with a cost of $6,535 for in-state students and $26,654 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Starting college is a huge investment for most undergraduates. It is important to make sure you justify that cash outlay. We aim for the following income and career stats to guide you in making an informed decision when choosing your focus.

 The average Chemical Engineering graduate makes a starting salary of $67,840 a year, which is the 25th most of any focus. With experience in their careers, they often bring in somewhere between $32,055 and $97,190, but average approximately $56,243. Just so you know, that is 46% above the national average.

 The most popular job for a Chemical Engineering graduate is Engineer, which ordinarily make more or less $59,000; next are Software Engineer and Development Engineer, which normally make about $65,000 and $69,000 respectively.

 The Great Lakes has the highest earning Chemical Engineering graduates. IL has the most well paid Chemical Engineering alumni of any state. Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has the highest grossing Chemical Engineering graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Chemical Engineering: Median Professor Rating: 2.8 / 5, which is below average.

 Instructors again and again have an immense influence your college experience, no matter what you major in. A thoughtful professor may provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem fun. On the other hand, a poor professor can interrupt your development or even worse... flunk you!

 Chemical Engineering professors, disappointingly, only have a median student rating of 2.8 out of 5, which puts them in the lower 0 percent in the nation based on overall professor quality. For context a 2.8 rating is 30% lower than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Chemical Engineering slightly out-ranked those from ["Interior Design"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-interior-design), whereas ["Social Studies Teacher Education"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-social-studies-teacher-education)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Chemical Engineering.

 Now for some statistics about Chemical Engineering professors. Colleges located in small citys tend to have the best Chemical Engineering professors. The Big Twelve Conference has the highest rated Chemical Engineering professors. The Plains region has the highest rated Chemical Engineering professors. Public schools tend to have higher rated Chemical Engineering professors than private institutions. Finally, Kansas has the highest rated Chemical Engineering professors in America.

 Karen Nordheden, professor at [University of Kansas](/colleges/university-of-kansas)&nbspin Lawrence, KS is the most popular Chemical Engineering professor in America. Susan Williams, instructor at [University of Kansas](/colleges/university-of-kansas)&nbspin Lawrence, KS is the highest rated Chemical Engineering professor in the nation, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Find out which schools have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College can be a vastly formative time in one's life; it's a time for personal growth and maturation. Pupils attempt to learn what they wish to become and build the requisite skills to be a prosperous member of society. But growth also happens outside a classroom environment - the late nights discussing Descarte with a peer, the wild anecdote learned from a tenured professor, the exposure to a different vantage point. As such, a diverse univeristy experience greatly enriches what you gain from your time in university.

 Chemical Engineering is a more racially diverse subject than average\*. 52% of the US' Chemical Engineering majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(24%), asian students (14%), and latino students (8%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [University of Houston](/colleges/university-of-houston) located in Houston, TX.

 Secondly, Chemical Engineering significatly skews male, with 65% of students majoring in Chemical Engineering identifying as men. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [Lafayette College](/colleges/lafayette-college) in Easton, PA.

 Another significant type of diversity is class diversity. Sadly, Chemical Engineering is one of America's least economically diverse subjects (Bottom 36%). 31% of its students come from households with $110,000 plus annual incomes, 16% are from mid-income households, and 24% grew up in low income families. [Oklahoma State University-Main Campus](/colleges/oklahoma-state-university-main-campus) has the most socioeconomically diverse students in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall NJ is the most diverse state for Chemical Engineering. The Far West is the most diverse region, and the Conference USA is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 14%
* Black: 3%
* Latino: 8%
* White: 52%
* Other: 24%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 65%
* Female: 35%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 24%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 15%
* Over 110k: 31%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 65%
* Out of State: 27%
* International: 7%


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2023 Chemical Engineering Salary

There are about 24,690 students enrolled in Chemical Engineering in the USA.

SALARY