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What is Chemical Engineering?

A chemical engineering degree is a multi-faceted arm of engineering that blends natural sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, geology), life sciences (botany, microbiology, biochemistry, ecology), business (finance, economics, manufacturing, design), mathematics (calculus, trigonometry, algebra, arithmetic), with experimental sciences (hypothesis testing) to add value to raw materials.  The value-add process includes utilizing the multidisciplinary nature of a chemical engineer to create, design, prototype, modify, manufacture, ship, manage, and operate processes involved in transforming materials into commercially viable products.

For example, a chemical engineer helped to develop carbon nanotubes.  With unique mechanical, electronic, and magnetic properties these fibers have been used to strengthen materials and thermal conduction.  Carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger than steel yet can be 10,000 smaller in width than a human hair.  Chemical skills of engineering specialists helped develop the research, testing, and know-how to bring CNT’s to market.  In short, engineering forever changed production of semiconductors, electronics, optics, and materials science with such innovations.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$105,420

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

64.84%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

31,990

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Chemical Engineering Degree

Princeton University established a Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering that offers Degrees and Certificates programs. Bioengineering and biotechnology, energy and engineering, optimization and information technology, science and engineering for new technologies are some of the things included in the undergraduate areas that they provide. They actively conduct research which defines the frontiers of knowledge in an aim to develop the future leaders in chemical and biological engineering. They mold their students to become chemical engineers for careers in research and development, and government or industry or in any field where their skills and knowledge will be needed.

Acceptance Rate

5.78

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

The School of Engineering and Applied science at Yale University launched a Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. This department is composed of a vibrant community of scholars where chemical engineering students are guided by sustainability. The environmental engineering students are guided with a molecular focus. Yale is known as one of the world’s leading academic institutions.

Acceptance Rate

6.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in the City of New York offers an Undergraduate, Master of Science, and PhD programs. The undergraduate experience at Chemical Engineering degree provides coursework, independent research experience, and a host of departmental activities. The MS program is especially structured to provide excellent preparation for students that wish to find employment in the industry. The PhD program gives the opportunity to work closely with one of the world-renowned faculty.

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Stanford University has Undergraduate Programs and Graduate Programs for Chemical Engineering. Providing professional training, development and education for the future leaders in chemical sciences and engineering of the new generation is the main goal of the Chemical Engineering Department at Stanford. This Department will train you to have a complete and quantitative understanding of both the scientific and engineering principles that underlay the technological processes. To make that possible, they included the study of applied mathematics, material and energy balances, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, energy, mass transfer etc. 

Acceptance Rate

4.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Massachusetts Institute of technology offers an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program as part of their Chemical Engineering curriculum. Students under this degree program work for an advisor as they conduct research projects. This program provides opportunities for in-depth knowledge, mentoring and laboratory experience. They also offer graduate degree programs, the Ph.D./SC.D. degree program, Ph.D.CEP degree program, and M.S.CEP degree program.

Acceptance Rate

6.7

Student to Faculty Ratio

3:1

Caltech conducts the leading chemical engineering research into new areas of application and involvement. That is because of their Chemical Engineering Faculty which is one of the most distinguished and innovative in the world. They maintained a balance between classroom lectures and laboratory experience which is considered a broad and rigorous training for their students. Their program will also train you to cultivate self-reliance, creativity, professional ethics and appreciation of the social impact of engineering.  

Acceptance Rate

6.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

3:1

One thing that is admirable in Cornell University is that no language can be a barrier for you to be excellent. They don’t require a specific language to be used by students majoring in Chemical Engineering in this University. The chemical Engineering programs that they developed are designed to help the students be able to demonstrate an understanding of the core subjects in chemical engineering and at the same time apply the core subjects to technological applications. You will be trained to have the ability to use appropriate chemical engineering tools, techniques and methods to solve engineering problems in the context of courses and independent projects. 

Acceptance Rate

10.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University is internationally recognized for fostering the growth of the future engineers for the next generation. They built a multidisciplinary community with excellence in research and education. The complex systems, soft materials, synthetic biology, biotechnology and catalysis that they invented and innovated had an impact on the world. This department is used for the challenges in renewable energy, biomanufacturing, clean water, sustainability and human health. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Washington University in St. Louis is dedicated to creating new knowledge for an ever-changing world. It is said that this university offers the highest quality in academic programs. They provide an integrated and multidisciplinary program of scientific education in cutting-edge areas, including the PhD in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering. Their research and educational activities are organized into four clusters: aerosol science and engineering, engineered aquatic processes; multiscale and electrochemical engineering; and synthetic biology and bioproduct engineering. 

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Rice University is known as a comprehensive research university that is dedicated to produce the next generation of leaders. They generate bold research solutions to advance tomorrow’s thinking. Their undergraduate degree in chemical engineering encompasses both fundamentals and applications to help lead students to a career as a chemical engineer. According to U.S. News and World report, the undergraduates of Rice University ranked in the top 25 – top 10 among private colleges. 

Acceptance Rate

8.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

All faculty members in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt University are active in research and direction of graduate student projects. That is the reason why they can confidently offer a broad range of research opportunities in chemical engineering with focus areas including biotechnology and biomolecular, computational science engineering, materials and nanotechnology, energy and sustainability. In addition to that, students will be provided with numerous professional development activities some of these are attendance at conferences, professional seminars, career services and teaching supervision for those interested in academic careers. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

University of Notre Dame can give you the best of both – deep knowledge in chemical engineering and a solid understanding of the related scientific, social and moral issues because they combined a strong focus on chemical engineering with a broad education in the humanities and science.  The pride of Notre Dame is their faculty that are accessible even outside the classroom. The students will be taught by the faculty who deeply care about their learning and apply the latest innovations and technologies inside the classroom. Graduates are provided world-class multidisciplinary research opportunities, engaging professional development activities, and a robust education in chemical, biological, and biomedical engineering.  

Acceptance Rate

15.83

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Johns Hopkins is offering online master’s degree and certificate programs spanning multiple engineering disciplines and applied science. Here, you will enrich your experience as an engineer and be able to solve problems in diverse areas, such as biopharma, electronics, energy and green manufacturing for fuels and chemicals. Meet workforce demands with the knowledge from Johns Hopkins Engineering’s challenging courses and a modern curriculum covering a broad range of topics in chemical and biomolecular engineering. Your experience here will prepare you for leadership positions in multiple industries.

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Tufts is a top-notch research University. With small classes taught by innovative faculty working at the cutting edge of their fields, we can say that they offer a student-centered education. Students at the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering collaborate closely with faculty and peers in project-based work, so they are grounded in interdisciplinary education and research. Students will be taught to cultivate their passions academically and professionally in a dynamic and supportive environment while using the tools of their department programs. In short, they guarantee interdisciplinary education, collaborative research, and active learning. 

Acceptance Rate

14.95

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

USC claims that their students in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science get involved in research, internships, and student organizations that are related to their major. Those who chose a primary degree in chemical engineering get to take a little of everything over the four years they’ll spend in this University. They will acquire a strong foundation in chemical engineering principles to pursue numerous careers related to the field. They will be provided with a balance of programs- theoretical, computational, and experimental-that exemplify the Viterbi School’s approach to intensive and collaborative research.

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

When you study Chemical Engineering at University of Virginia you will learn how to utilize technical competency, communication and teamwork skills, and breadth of knowledge to serve effectively in the chemical engineering profession. Their engineering programs will make you a potential technical leader in industry, government or academia. This School pursues to have an advanced study in engineering and applied sciences and in professions such as law, business and medicine. Students are guided to have an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics. 

Acceptance Rate

23.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

UCLA strives to educate future leaders in chemical engineering who effectively combine their broad knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology with their engineering analysis and design skills for the creative solution of problems in chemical and biomolecular technology and for the synthesis of innovative (bio)chemical processes and products. To solve problems creatively in chemical, biochemical and biomolecular technology, students draw on a rigorous education in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology in addition to the fundamentals of chemical engineering. They incorporate social, ethical, environmental and economic considerations, including the concept of sustainable development, into chemical, biochemical and biomolecular engineering practice. To tackle complex multifaceted problems that may require different approaches and viewpoints to arrive at a successful solution, they work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams. They also incorporate social, ethical, environmental and economic considerations. 

Acceptance Rate

12.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Engineers matter across scales at the University of Michigan. From molecules and materials to micromachines and medicines. The redefining of boundaries of chemical engineering are made by their outstanding students. Strategies for guiding chemical processes is their focus for undergraduate level. The raw ingredients that they combined are carefully selected to give them the chemical that they want. They control the reaction conditions to get as much of the target chemical as possible and then to yield the pure product, they carefully remove unwanted chemicals. 

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

In 1908, the Department of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon awarded its diplomas for the first time. After that, the department kept growing substantially in both stature and reputation. They offer a degree program in Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. In the learning of basic principles in chemical engineering science and process systems engineering, the department emphasizes problem solving techniques. The extensive use for the integrated computing is made of software for mathematical modeling and this is applied throughout the curriculum. 

Acceptance Rate

15.44

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Cooper Union’s Department of Chemical Engineering aims to prepare their students for a professional career where they can apply the abilities to solve problems that they acquired. Students here will know how to handle challenges that they might face in engineering and non-engineering fields. Graduates of this program will most likely attain a professional licensure. They will surely grasp the concept of lifelong learning as they progress through the Cooper Union's curricular design. 

Acceptance Rate

15.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

You will receive a solid preparation for professional work in development, design, and operation of chemical products and processes when you take the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at University of California, Berkeley. They prepare the students for future employment for such industries as chemical, petroleum, electrochemical, biochemical, semiconductor, nuclear, aerospace, plastics, food processing, or environmental control. The undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Graduate work in chemical and biomolecular engineering emphasizes the excitement of original research in frontier areas of applied science at Berkeley. Students who graduated here may pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering, or they may apply for an M.S. in Chemical Engineering.

Acceptance Rate

16.25

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology offers programs for graduate and prospective MS/PhD. Graduate programs provide advanced-level coursework as well as an independent research that can lead to both MS and PhD degrees. MS degree program is a non-thesis degree that is designed for students who seek to develop a fuller knowledge of the fundamentals and at the same time learn about emerging applications. The PhD program advocates a close relationship between the graduate students and the faculty members as they work together on cutting edge research.

Acceptance Rate

20.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

The Chemical Engineering major at Tulane University of Louisiana offers an undergraduate and graduate program and a CBE Lecture Series. Their primary goal is to provide the highest quality programs that will educate students at all levels. Students can expect to gain a fuller understanding of the principles and applications of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. They will be able to perform an innovative and high-quality research that shows health, energy and environment advancement with the help of engineering solutions.

Acceptance Rate

12.87

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Northeastern University offers graduate degrees in Chemical Engineering. These programs are designed to provide the students with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research which addresses the pressing challenges faced by the society. Students who took advantage of the graduate-level coursework developed an in-depth understanding of the basic principles of chemical engineering. As soon as the students complete the program, they gradually gain expertise in modern topics in the field.

Acceptance Rate

18.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Villanova University’s degree program provides a faculty who gives value to the students’ success. Their faculty are known to give time to get to know each student. Students will be good working alone or as a team. They also offer a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering program which intends to supplement the education of practicing chemical engineers. They provide a flexible curriculum that provides the mastery of a wide range of subjects.

Acceptance Rate

28.24

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

How to Become a Chemical Engineer

To become a chemical engineer, you will need to apply to specific engineering schools with a targeted chemical study path within the engineering domain. Upon earning acceptance, you will need to then build chemical engineering skills and earn a degree in chemical engineering or associated degree in the field. The chemical engineering field is replete with engineer degrees can be online bachelor's degrees, online masters degree courses, online doctorate degrees, or classroom-based programs at the same degree level. We have outlined university rankings above and degrees below to help you better understand the courses and degrees in your quest to become chemical engineers.

Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering

A bachelors engineering degree program in chemical engineering is conferred as a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and will take full time students 4-years to complete. Students will have the opportunity to take a number of general education courses such as communication, English, and philosophy along with core science classes. The chemical engineering bachelor core courses will typically include classes like computing for engineers, physics, calculus, biology, chemistry, differential equations, chemical reactions, thermodynamics, kinetics, spectroscopy, and biochemistry.

Master’s Chemical Engineering Degrees

The masters degree track for chemical engineers is conferred to graduates as a Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng) and will take 2-3 years of full-time matriculation to complete after meeting all lower-level requirements. Masters degree classes and research/thesis projects may vary by student with a variety of course specializations. Common courses to study within the MEng pathway include reaction kinetics, complex fluids, catalysis, sustainable development, bioinformatics, microfluids, biomedicine, optimization, thermodynamics, cancer diagnostics, solar energy, biofuels, air quality, environmental science, process synthesis, and modeling.

Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering

At the doctorate degree level, students in the chemical engineering degree will be conferred a PhD upon completion. The PhD degree course will take four to six years to complete with a board-approved dissertation taking a substantive portion of the program. Students earning a PhD in chemical engineering will be equipped to teach at the college level, perform research for public or private organizations, or work as consultants performing a variety of specialized projects.

Chemical Engineering Courses

An education in chemical engineering may be received at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a bachelor’s degree being the most common degree earned. Individuals studying chemical engineering will have to have a strong background in the sciences, such as chemistry, physics, and biology to study.  In addition to the aforementioned courses, you will gain a level of course mastery in mathematics and general engineering principles. Academic degree programs will teach students to combine these various principles in the development and maintenance of chemical-based machinery and processes.

A course curriculum may include a wide array of math and science courses to study that are designed to enhance chemical analysis, critical thinking, chemical analysis, reasoning, technology integration, chemical reactions, and synthesis of the sciences.  The greater the course specialization the more detailed level of chemical engineering courses a school will provide students.  A broad mix of courses to study will include:

Schools that offer chemical engineering degrees should be able to provide modern and up to date facilities. Students should be able to find practical experience in these courses alongside their theoretical and traditional educations.  Further, colleges with active research projects or means for course experimentation are ideal for students looking to study this field.

Schools Other Students Requested Information From:

Employment for Chemical Engineers

The chemical engineer domain is expected to experience some growth over the next decade. As a specialized field of study and employment, and due to the limited number of jobs available, chemical engineering careers will be slower than average. Individuals seeking employment in this field will generally look to larger companies that are responsible for manufacturing or development. New technologies, systems and methods will allow recent graduates to find employment, as will retiring professionals that open up opportunities. The annual median income of a chemical engineer in the United States is $98,340. Chemical engineers work in a variety of small and large companies across various sectors of the economy.

Top Chemical Engineer Careers

A career in chemical engineering can take you to the far-reaches of the globe performing a variety of exciting work.  Below we have listed areas that graduates may find themselves in as they ply their trade in chemical engineering.  Top careers for a chemical engineer include areas such as:

  • Air Quality
  • Process Synthesis
  • Biomedical Microdevices
  • Cosmetics
  • Biofuels
  • Pharmacoengineering
  • Cancer Diagnostics
  • Process Controls
  • Textiles
  • Waste Management
  • Plant Design
  • Fertilizers
  • Therapeutics
  • Food Processing
  • Chemical Reaction Engineering
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Reaction Engineering
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Environmental Science
  • Rehabilitation Engineering
  • Bioengineering
  • Mining and Minerals
  • Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
  • Building Construction
  • Materials Science
  • Biomedical Imaging
  • Complex Fluids
  • Microelectronics
  • Process Design Engineering
  • Polymers
  • Bioinformatics
Top Employers of Chemical Engineers
  1. Chemical Manufacturers
  2. Architectural and Engineering Firms
  3. Research and Development Organizations
  4. Synthetic Fiber Manufacturers
  5. Petroleum and Coal Manufacturers
States with the Highest Employment of Chemical Engineers
  • Texas                 6,970
  • California          2,390
  • Louisiana          2,380
  • Pennsylvania    1,530
  • Ohio                   1,430
Top Paying States for a Chemical Engineer
  1. Texas                              $125,360
  2. Delaware                       $118,460
  3. Arizona                          $113,650
  4. District of Columbia    $112,410
  5. Louisiana                       $111,670

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers is a professional organization that works for to promote chemical engineering interests as well as provide resources and development information for its members.

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