by our College Data Analytics TeamChemical Engineering was the 64th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 12,690 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 4.9% reduction in chem eng degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 13,314.
Our 2023 Best Chemical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes 151 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for chemical engineering students. Explore this or one of our many other custom chem eng rankings further below.
When studying Chem Eng, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most chem eng degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific chem eng careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different chem eng degree levels. You can get anything from a in chemical engineering to the highest chem eng degree, a . Chemical Engineering programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to chem eng, with approximately 48.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to chem eng tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 53.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 10.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 2.9% |
Most workers in chem eng have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in chemical engineering have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the chem eng career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your chem eng degree? Chemical Engineering careers are expected to grow 7.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to chemical engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
| Chemical Engineers | 35,100 | 7.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for chem eng graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for chemical engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers chem eng grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Chemical Engineers | $114,470 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
With over 469 different chem eng degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased chem eng school rankings to help you with this.
One of 2 majors within the Chemical Engineering area of study, Chemical Engineering has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering | 227 |
