by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their chemical engineering graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their chemical engineering graduates.
What’s on this page:
The chemical engineering program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we built our Highest Paid Chemical Engineering Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose chemical engineering degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Chemical Engineering Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
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Below are the schools whose chemical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Carnegie Mellon University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools in the United States. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $122,523.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $115,218 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $154,695.
Texas A And M University College Station produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of about $123,773 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #5 place for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $125,441 a year early in their careers.
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Rice University came in at #6 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Rice University make a median of around $117,477 per year.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $124,650.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #8 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $115,895 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $110,742 per year.
Lamar University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Lamar University is a public school located in the city of Beaumont. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Lamar University typically earn about $110,515 annually.
Northwestern University earned the #11 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $120,160 annually.
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #12 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,174.
University Of Notre Dame came in at #13 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Notre Dame make a median of around $113,065 per year.
University Of Florida placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of about $104,630 a year early in their careers.
Bucknell University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Bucknell University typically earn about $110,838 annually.
Auburn University landed the #16 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $108,040.
Lehigh University came in at #17 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Lehigh University make a median of around $107,647 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #18 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $102,023 a year early in their careers.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #19 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus make a median of around $101,692 per year.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earned the #20 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology make a median of around $106,661 per year.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #21 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Oklahoma State University Main Campus make a median of around $106,170 per year.
Tufts University earned the #22 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Tufts University make a median of around $115,375 per year.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $109,703.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #24 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from North Carolina State University At Raleigh make a median of around $103,529 per year.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #25 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $107,062 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning chemical engineering graduates:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their chemical engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
