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2023 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

32 Ranked Colleges
2,548 Degrees Awarded
$16,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Chemical Engineering is the 70th most popular major in the country with 12,917 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, chemical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $65,870 and had an average of $23,285 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 2,548 chemical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $69,096 and $23,693 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the chemical engineering program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region chem eng students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Southeast Region

1

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 157 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa also took the #15 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for southeast region chem eng students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Full USF Tampa Chemical Engineering Report

2
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mississippi State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region. Mississippi State University is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 104 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

Mississippi State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mississippi State University is $16,122 for southeast region chem eng students.

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

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Mississippi State University

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 32 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #3 spot on the list. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 144 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

UF also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $5,135 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students per year to attend UF.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UF

4
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Florida State University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $9,946 for southeast region chem eng students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Florida State University

5
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 218 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, NC State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,411 for southeast region chem eng students per year to attend NC State.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full North Carolina State University Chemical Engineering Report

6

University of South Alabama came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Mobile, Alabama, and it awarded 34 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USA, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,826 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students per year to attend University of South Alabama.

Full USA Chemical Engineering Report

7

Tennessee Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. Tennessee Tech University is located in Cookeville, Tennessee and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee Tech University, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee Technological University is $15,932 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University

8

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 241 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, Georgia Tech has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is $14,974 for southeast region chem eng students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

9
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. This fairly large school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 25 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

NC A&T not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend NC A&T is $10,563 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at NC A&T

10
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $21,301 for southeast region chem eng students per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Virginia Tech Chemical Engineering Report

11

With a ranking of #11, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a public institution located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 147 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, Louisiana State University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $17,811 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students per year to attend Louisiana State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

12
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #12, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Fayetteville, Arkansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.

UARK also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend UARK is $16,507 for southeast region chem eng students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 85%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UARK

13
Louisiana Tech crest
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, Louisiana

Louisiana Tech University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana Tech University is a public institution located in Ruston, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Louisiana Tech is $11,304 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Louisiana Tech

14
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. WVU is a large public school situated in Morgantown, West Virginia. It awarded 45 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend WVU is $13,355 for southeast region chem eng students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at West Virginia University

15
UofL crest
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

University of Louisville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Louisville is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, UofL has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UofL is $16,828 for southeast region chem eng students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UofL

16
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #16. Auburn, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 110 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Auburn, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Auburn University is $24,018 for southeast region chem eng students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Auburn

17
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

With a ranking of #17, Tuskegee University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Tuskegee University is located in Tuskegee, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $36,528 for southeast region chem eng students per year to attend Tuskegee University.

Full Tuskegee University Chemical Engineering Report

18
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. The University of Alabama is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 171 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

UA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UA is $20,917 for southeast region chem eng students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at The University of Alabama

19

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UT Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 112 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $18,579 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students per year to attend UT Knoxville.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at UT Knoxville

20

With a ranking of #20, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 79 students in 2020-2021.

UofSC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UofSC is $20,559 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at UofSC

21

University of Alabama in Huntsville came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Huntsville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,208 for southeast region chem eng students per year to attend University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full University of Alabama in Huntsville Chemical Engineering Report

22

West Virginia University Institute of Technology ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Beckley, West Virginia, and it awarded 10 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for West Virginia University Institute of Technology is $10,095 for southeast region chem eng students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at West Virginia University Institute of Technology

23
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #23. Ole Miss is a large public school situated in University, Mississippi. It awarded 28 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Ole Miss is $12,161 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

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 University of Mississippi

24
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region chem eng students list, Clemson has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $21,262 for southeast region chem eng students per year to attend Clemson.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 Clemson

25

The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Southeast Region list. Chattanooga, Tennessee is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UT Chattanooga is $14,040 for Southeast Region Chem Eng students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UT Chattanooga

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Notes and References

References

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