Best Schools for Chemical Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemical engineering education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Chemical Engineering
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2026 ranking of the best chemical engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 125 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $85,945 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,947.
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Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 65 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $80,709 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 177 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $77,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,850.
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Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemical engineering, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 204 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $81,105. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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University Of Notre Dame is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemical engineering, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 84 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $83,377 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago landed the #6 spot for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 95 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #7 for chemical engineering this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 135 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $86,209 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best chemical engineering schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 217 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $77,455. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 119 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $82,372 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,333 in student loans.
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Michigan State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. About 81% of students finish within six years. Michigan State University awarded about 72 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $79,023. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,573 in student loans.
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Case Western Reserve University landed the #11 spot for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $83,706. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton landed the #12 spot for chemical engineering this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 42 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Dayton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Dayton earn around $79,865 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $22,999 in student loans.
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Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology came in at #13 for chemical engineering this year. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. About 39 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of $82,394 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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Michigan Technological University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. About 68% of students finish within six years. Michigan Technological University awarded about 86 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $80,193. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans.
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University Of Toledo placed #15 among the best chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. University Of Toledo awarded about 61 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $79,750 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Oxford placed #16 among the best chemical engineering schools. Miami University Oxford is a large public school located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $77,542 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #17 among the best chemical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 59 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $58,377 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,875 to complete this degree.
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University Of Akron Main Campus landed the #18 spot for chemical engineering this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. About 52% of students finish within six years. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 77 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $71,873 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,168 to complete this degree.
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Kettering University placed #19 among the best chemical engineering schools. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kettering University awarded about 23 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $71,411 in their early career. Kettering University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 45 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $67,322. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #21 for chemical engineering this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $64,526 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,747 to complete this degree.
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Wayne State University landed the #22 spot for chemical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Wayne State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $71,373 in their early career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $29,900 in student loans.
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Cleveland State University came in at #23 for chemical engineering this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cleveland State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $69,043 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,826 to complete this degree.
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Milwaukee School Of Engineering landed the #24 spot for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 16 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Milwaukee School Of Engineering in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Milwaukee School Of Engineering earn a median of $55,333 early in their careers. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Western Michigan University earned the #25 position for chemical engineering this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 43 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from Western Michigan University earn around $68,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 26 Chemical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s chemical engineering ranking:
Narrow Chemical Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.