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2023 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

12 Ranked Colleges
883 Degrees Awarded
$10,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 12,690 people earned their degree in chemical engineering, making the major the 64th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 883 chemical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 12 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Chemical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 85 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $1,556 for Plains States Region Chem Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 137 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,698 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 136 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $9,766 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Iowa State

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 120 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri University of Science and Technology also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $7,356 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Chemical Engineering Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,843 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 UMN Duluth Chemical Engineering Report

6

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for Plains States Region Chem Eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 89%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

7

University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a large school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 36 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $11,672 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, 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 85%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Chemical Engineering Report

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $13,554 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 88%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Iowa

9
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 45 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k list, UND has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,394 for Plains States Region Chem Eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UND.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UND Chemical Engineering Report

10
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. K -State is a large public school situated in Manhattan, Kansas. It awarded 59 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,436 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kansas State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, 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 87%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University

11
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 69 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

KU also made our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $15,666 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, 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.

Full University of Kansas Chemical Engineering Report

12

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Chem Eng Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, this small public school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SD Mines is $16,705 for plains states region chem eng students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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