Chemical Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their chemical engineering programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 214 schools to find the best for chemical engineering students.
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2026 ranking of the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 138 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $87,365 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 217 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $86,176 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,135 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemical engineering, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 130 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 120 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $81,553 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,155.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 111 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $85,945. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,947 in student loans.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for chemical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 96% of students finish within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 49 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $80,139. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $15,209 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #7 for chemical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 145 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $77,440 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,850 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University placed #8 among the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 35 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $85,578 early in their careers. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $14,361 in student loans.
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Northwestern University came in at #9 for chemical engineering this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 28 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $80,709 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida came in at #10 for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 117 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $87,164 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $20,050 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for chemical engineering this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $81,721 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 81 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $79,551 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 67 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $76,680 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,205.
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University Of Notre Dame placed #14 among the best chemical engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 60 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $83,377. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus placed #15 among the best chemical engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 137 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $81,105 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #16 spot for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 170 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $81,492 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,244 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago placed #17 among the best chemical engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California came in at #18 for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $68,234. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Rice University placed #19 among the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Rice University awarded about 22 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $87,830. Rice University graduates carry a median of $13,178 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis earned the #20 position for chemical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 54 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $68,337. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000.
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San Jose State University earned the #21 position for chemical engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 15 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
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Carnegie Mellon University came in at #22 for chemical engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 59 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $89,327 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 187 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $77,455 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Auburn University landed the #24 spot for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 76 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $82,217. Typical student debt for the program is $23,104.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $85,772 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,733 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Chemical Engineering Schools
These schools also placed among the best for chemical engineering this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 214 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
