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2022 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

16 Ranked Colleges
1,595 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 13,610 people earned their degree in chemical engineering, making the major the 66th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, chemical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $62,963 and had an average of $22,564 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 1,595 chemical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,888 and $21,468 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in chemical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great chemical engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the chemical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Chemical Engineering Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Southwest Region

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Rice University landed the #1 spot on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.

Rice also took the #2 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice is $7,318 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Rice Chemical Engineering Report

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 225 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $15,757 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UT Austin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas A&M University - College Station. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 273 students in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M College Station is $18,810 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M College Station

#4

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #4 spot on the list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,505 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UH.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of Houston

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. OSU is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OSU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,698 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at OSU

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $10,235 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at NMSU Main Campus

#7

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

With a ranking of #7, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lamar University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lamar University is $14,818 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Lamar University

#8

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #8, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 118 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $17,421 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Texas Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech

#9

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 93 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k list, University of Arizona has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $15,399 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Arizona.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Arizona

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 198 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

ASU - Tempe also took the #8 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,033 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Arizona State University - Tempe.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at ASU - Tempe

With a ranking of #11, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a small public school situated in Socorro, New Mexico. It awarded 20 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New Mexico Tech, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $14,429 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend New Mexico Tech.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Chemical Engineering Report

With a ranking of #12, Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Kingsville, Texas, and it awarded 76 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M Kingsville is $14,464 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M Kingsville

#13

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma

University of Tulsa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Tulsa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 42 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Tulsa also took the #4 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Tulsa is $19,396 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Tulsa

#14

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Prairie View, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k list, PVAMU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $16,610 for southwest region chem eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend PVAMU.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Prairie View A & M University

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Norman, Oklahoma, and it awarded 104 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also took the #10 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $21,812 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

#16

University of New Mexico - Main Campus

Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southwest Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 58 ’s chem eng degrees in 2019-2020.

UNM also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $16,557 for Southwest Region Chem Eng students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Mikulova.

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