2026 Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
Chemical Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their chemical engineering programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools to find the best for chemical engineering students.
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Best Schools for Chemical Engineering in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemical engineering education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Chemical Engineering
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 174 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $87,365 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,844.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 261 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $86,176 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $18,135 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong chemical engineering program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 62 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $87,830. Rice University graduates carry a median of $13,178 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University one of the top schools for chemical engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 151 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $78,813 early in their careers. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Houston one of the top schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. About 100 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from University Of Houston earn around $94,856 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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University Of Arizona placed #6 among the best chemical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 70 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $73,479 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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University Of Tulsa came in at #7 for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Tulsa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $47,705 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,638.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Stillwater. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $82,466. Typical student debt for the program is $25,875.
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Texas Tech University landed the #9 spot for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 84 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $77,586 early in their careers. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Lamar University earned the #10 position for chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. About 39 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at Lamar University in the most recent year. Chemical Engineering graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $87,284 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,019 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from Lamar University
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #11 spot for chemical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. About 43 chemical engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $77,751 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in chemical engineering from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #12 position for chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent data year. Chemical Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $60,503 early in their careers. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans.
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New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best chemical engineering schools. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $75,766. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned the #14 position for chemical engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of New Mexico Main Campus awarded about 24 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $62,907 in their early career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,187 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #15 position for chemical engineering this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At San Antonio in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemical engineering degree from The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn around $49,955 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,312.
See the full chemical engineering program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #16 position for chemical engineering this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 chemical engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Kingsville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $55,622. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
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Prairie View A And M University earned the #17 position for chemical engineering this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Prairie View. About 43% of students finish within six years. Prairie View A And M University awarded about 24 chemical engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemical engineering program make about $58,627 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,000 to complete this degree.
See the full chemical engineering program report for Prairie View A And M University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 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.