2026 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for chemical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is New Mexico State University Main Campus, our #1 best value for chemical engineering in the Southwest Region. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $15,000. Chemical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $75,766 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in chemical engineering will find it at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,607, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $20,052. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $60,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for chemical engineering. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $13,178. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $87,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Students looking for strong value in chemical engineering will find it at Lamar University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Students borrow a median of $20,019 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $87,284. That is a strong return on a $20,019 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $78,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #6 position for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $55,622. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,312 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At San Antonio generally make around $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston placed #8 among the best values for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $20,000. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $94,856. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Arizona earned the #9 position for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $73,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans. Chemical Engineering graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $82,466 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Prairie View A And M University placed #11 among the best values for chemical engineering. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, compared with $26,874 for out-of-state students. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $33,000 in student loans. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $58,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #12 for value in chemical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $77,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #13 for value in chemical engineering this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $20,187. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $62,907. That is a strong return on a $20,187 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #14 position for value in chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $87,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University landed the #15 spot for chemical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $77,586. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,135 in student loans. Chemical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $86,176 early in their careers. Set against $18,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Tulsa placed #17 among the best values for chemical engineering. University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. In-state tuition and fees average $49,546. Students borrow a median of $23,638 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $47,705. That is a strong return on a $23,638 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
