Compare 152 Chemical Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $86,419. Top programs: $108,850+.
The highest-earning Chemical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $13K earnings gap across 152 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Rice University's Chemical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $108,850, followed closely by UC Berkeley at $108,067. The average across all programs is $86,419, yet this field shows remarkable consistency at the top—the best programs cluster within $1,000 of each other, suggesting quality transcends institutional type.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Rice graduates borrow $11,000 and face just a 1.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, Brigham Young University leads with a 4.0% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $108,850 | 36 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Good |
| #2 | $108,067 | 112 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #3 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $107,816 | 40 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #4 | Lamar UniversityPublic | $107,127 | 47 | $21,250 | Excellent | $11,359 | Excellent |
| #5 | $105,514 | 39 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #6 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $105,514 | 61 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #7 | $105,292 | 221 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Good | |
| #8 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $102,617 | 40 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #9 | University Of TulsaPrivate | $101,924 | 33 | $21,500 | Excellent | $34,500 | Good |
| #10 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $101,352 | 18 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Manageable |
| #11 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $100,444 | 42 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Good |
| #12 | $99,799 | 42 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #13 | $99,522 | 127 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Good | |
| #14 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $99,093 | 97 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #15 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $97,631 | 28 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Good |
| #16 | Kansas State UniversityPublic | $97,457 | 70 | $21,250 | Excellent | $27,283 | Good |
| #17 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $96,794 | 84 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable |
| #18 | $96,261 | 62 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | |
| #19 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $96,178 | 41 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #20 | $95,916 | 180 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #21 | $94,710 | 132 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #22 | $94,160 | 83 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | Good | |
| #23 | $93,875 | 50 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #24 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $93,785 | 88 | $21,500 | Excellent | $28,086 | Good |
| #25 | $93,745 | 41 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
