2027 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for chemical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools
University Of Pennsylvania tops our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools in Pennsylvania. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $81,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,906, compared with $26,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $26,548. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $73,072. Set against $26,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,355 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,256 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $64,243. That is a strong return on a $32,256 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Students borrow a median of $26,548 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $73,072. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemical engineering will find it at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #5. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $23,125. Chemical Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in chemical engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $26,831. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $82,218. That is a strong return on a $26,831 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Lafayette College came in at #7 for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $79,602. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $82,435. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $30,860 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $81,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Bucknell University placed #10 among the best values for chemical engineering. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Chemical Engineering graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $80,653 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
Villanova University placed #11 among the best values for chemical engineering. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,776 in tuition and fees. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,379. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
More Chemical Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- 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.
