Chemical Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 214 schools to find the best for chemical engineering students.
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Choosing a Great Chemical Engineering School
Where you study chemical engineering matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Chemical Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Chemical Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Chemical Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
The University Of Texas At Austin tops our 2026 ranking of the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 174 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $87,365. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete this degree.
See the full chemical engineering program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 261 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $86,176 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,135.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from Texas A And M University College Station
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 165 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full chemical engineering details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong chemical engineering program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 179 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $81,553 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $18,155 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from University Of California Berkeley
Students looking for a strong chemical engineering program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 61 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at Stanford University
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #6 among the best chemical engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 125 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $85,945 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,947.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Northwestern University earned the #7 position for chemical engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 65 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $80,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
See the full chemical engineering program report for Northwestern University
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 108 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $109,265 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,209.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for chemical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 177 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent 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.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Rice University came in at #10 for chemical engineering this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Rice University awarded about 62 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Rice University earn around $87,830 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,178.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at Rice University
Yale University came in at #11 for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 42 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $74,578 in their early career. Yale University graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from Yale University
University Of California Los Angeles placed #12 among the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 99 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles 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. Students borrow a median of $18,205 to complete this degree.
Get the full chemical engineering details for University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 68 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $81,721 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from University Of Pennsylvania
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #14 position for chemical engineering this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 204 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $81,105 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Get the full chemical engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Notre Dame came in at #15 for chemical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. About 84 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Notre Dame earn around $83,377 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at University Of Notre Dame
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #16 spot for chemical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 243 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $98,008 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,244 in student loans.
Get the full chemical engineering details for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida earned the #17 position for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 158 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $87,164 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,050.
See the full chemical engineering program report for University Of Florida
University Of Chicago landed the #18 spot for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Get the full chemical engineering details for University Of Chicago
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #19 spot for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 135 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $86,209 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
See the full chemical engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Johns Hopkins University placed #20 among the best chemical engineering schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 147 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $51,267 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemical engineering program at Johns Hopkins University
University Of Southern California earned the #21 position for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 57 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent 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.
See the full chemical engineering program report for University Of Southern California
Cornell University earned the #22 position for chemical engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 86 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.
Get the full chemical engineering details for Cornell University
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University
University Of California Davis earned the #24 position for chemical engineering this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 72 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis 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.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from University Of California Davis
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for chemical engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 217 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $77,455 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full chemical engineering program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Chemical Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong chemical engineering education:
The ranking above is published 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).
