by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Chemical Engineering explores Chemical Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems Employing Chemical Processes, Such As Chemical Reactors, Kinetic Systems, Electrochemical Systems, Energy Conservation Processes, Heat And Mass Transfer Systems, And Separation Processes; And The Applied Analysis Of Chemical Problems Such As Corrosion, Particle Abrasion, Energy Loss, Pollution, And Fluid Mechanics. Read on to learn the important information every chemical engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering chemical engineering programs.
Across the country, chemical engineering is a popular field of study, with 10,624 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Chemical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 190 schools to determine the best overall colleges for chemical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of chemical engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for Chemical Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations chemical engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a chemical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a chemical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several chemical engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 43 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,901 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,588 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,084 |
People currently working in careers related to chemical engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in chemical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in chemical engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to chemical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to chemical engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Chemical Engineers | 215,233 | 0.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of chemical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,187 |
| 4 years | $87,755 |
| 5 years | $99,039 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for chemical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers chemical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
With 190 different chemical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased chemical engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in chemical engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | 297 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
