Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Chemical Engineering
CIP14.07
182 colleges offer Chemical Engineering. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 182
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $97,202
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 5
- Associate's
- 29
- Bachelor's
- 182
- Master's
- 146
- Doctoral
- 118
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 16
What it covers
About Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering is part of Engineering: instructional programs that prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the solution of practical problems.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.07.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 14.07.
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 29 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Bachelor's | 182 | $97,2024 yrs after · 152 colleges | $21,500134 colleges |
| Master's | 146 | $114,0374 yrs after · 11 colleges | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 118 | $173,0644 yrs after · 2 colleges | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 16 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Chemical Engineering graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 51 graduates
$122,093
debt not reported
- 2
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit · 24 graduates
$121,641
debt not reported
- 3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 120 graduates
$121,027
debt $16,167
- 4
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 35 graduates
$116,165
debt $13,500
- 5
Easton, PA · Private nonprofit · 21 graduates
$115,726
debt not reported
- 6
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 138 graduates
$115,423
debt $15,438
- 7
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · Public · 72 graduates
$114,226
debt $15,076
- 8
University of Notre Dame-South Bend
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · 61 graduates
$113,614
debt $19,000
- 9
Houston, TX · Private nonprofit · 22 graduates
$113,605
debt not reported
- 10
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public · 44 graduates
$113,317
debt $13,833
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Chemical Engineering by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Chemical Engineers
- Median pay
- $125,040
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Science
- Complex Problem Solving
Architecture and engineering
Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
Architecture and engineering
Engineers, All Other
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
Architecture and engineering
Mechatronics Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
Architecture and engineering
Microsystems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Architecture and engineering
Nanosystems Engineers
- Median pay
- $122,930
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Computer Engineering367 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
- Industrial Engineering128 colleges
Questions about Chemical Engineering
How many colleges offer Chemical Engineering?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Chemical Engineering at these degree levels: certificate (5 colleges), associate's (29 colleges), bachelor's (182 colleges), master's (146 colleges), doctoral (118 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (16 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Chemical Engineering graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Chemical Engineering earn $97,202 a year four years after finishing, across 152 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Chemical Engineering graduates earn the most?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Chemical Engineering: $122,093 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.