Compare 6 Chemical Engineering. programs in Massachusetts. Average earnings: $92,750.
With top graduates earning $99,799, Chemical Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $7K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Chemical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $99,799, while Tufts follows at $97,631 and University of Massachusetts-Lowell at $94,160. The average across all 6 programs is $92,750, demonstrating that even within this concentrated field, program-level factors drive meaningful outcome differences.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. MIT graduates borrow $14,768 and face just a 2.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families, UMass-Lowell leads with an 8.6% family burden when parent loans are included, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $99,799
Strong outcomes with 85% acceptance
2.6% payment burden | Excellent
8.6% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $99,799 | 42 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #2 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $97,631 | 28 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Good |
| #3 | $94,160 | 83 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | Good | |
| #4 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $91,084 | 128 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable |
| #5 | $89,036 | 76 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $84,792 | 92 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | 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 →
