Compare 38 Chemical Engineering. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $97,450.
The highest-earning Chemical Engineering program in the Northeast isn't at the most prestigious school — the data confirms it. With a $24,769 earnings gap across 38 programs and a regional average of $97,450, program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Evaluating programs individually, not by school name, is how you find the real winners.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads the Northeast, with Chemical Engineering graduates earning $122,093 — well above the $97,450 regional average. Cornell University follows at $116,165, and Lafayette College rounds out the top three at $115,726. The presence of a smaller liberal arts college in the top three underscores that prestige alone doesn't predict program outcomes.
For students borrowing on their own, MIT and Cornell both carry just a 2.0% payment burden — firmly 'Excellent' by GPS affordability standards. But for families factoring in parent loans, Cooper Union stands apart: a combined family debt of $32,804 produces a 6.3% family burden, also rated 'Excellent.' That's the lowest family burden in the region, achieved at a program delivering $100,191 in graduate earnings.
Highest program earnings: $122,093
Strong outcomes ($103,728) with 91% acceptance
2.0% payment burden | Excellent
6.3% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $122,093 | 48 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Good | |
| #2 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $116,165 | 47 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #3 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $115,726 | 31 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | Manageable |
| #4 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $110,378 | 44 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Good |
| #5 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $109,884 | 28 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #6 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $107,767 | 86 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #7 | $103,728 | 172 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Good | |
| #8 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $103,601 | 50 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Manageable |
| #9 | $103,525 | 28 | $22,250 | Excellent | $28,000 | Good | |
| #10 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $101,720 | 39 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #11 | $100,729 | 100 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Good | |
| #12 | $100,199 | 92 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $100,191 | 23 | $15,000 | Excellent | $17,804 | Excellent | |
| #14 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $99,536 | 25 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Manageable |
| #15 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $99,338 | 65 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #16 | $98,782 | 47 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,192 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $98,679 | 63 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | Manageable | |
| #18 | $97,990 | 60 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Good | |
| #19 | $97,371 | 71 | $21,000 | Excellent | $22,866 | Good | |
| #20 | $97,324 | 94 | $24,250 | Excellent | $35,031 | Good | |
| #21 | Manhattan UniversityPrivate | $96,134 | 25 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | Manageable |
| #22 | Rowan UniversityPublic | $95,769 | 36 | $20,500 | Excellent | $27,445 | Good |
| #23 | University At BuffaloPublic | $95,424 | 53 | $19,000 | Excellent | $20,734 | Good |
| #24 | $94,972 | 59 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | Good | |
| #25 | University Of MainePublic | $94,964 | 34 | $25,000 | Excellent | $21,900 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
