2027 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value chemical engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Lamar University, our #1 best value for chemical engineering in the Southwest Region. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $20,019. Chemical Engineering graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $87,284 early in their careers. Set against $20,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $15,000. Chemical Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $75,766 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemical engineering will find it at The University Of Texas At San Antonio, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rice University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $13,178 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Chemical Engineering graduates of Rice University earn a median of $87,830 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in chemical engineering will find it at Texas A And M University Kingsville, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $55,622. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston landed the #6 spot for chemical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $94,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #7 for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $78,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Prairie View A And M University came in at #8 for value in chemical engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Students borrow a median of $33,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $58,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Tulsa came in at #9 for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,546. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $23,638. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $47,705. That is a strong return on a $23,638 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #10 for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $77,751 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for chemical engineering. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $20,187. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $62,907. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Arizona earned the #12 position for value in chemical engineering this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the chemical engineering program here. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $73,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for chemical engineering. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemical engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $82,466. That is a strong return on a $25,875 median debt. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Texas Tech University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $28,000. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $77,586. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #15 among the best values for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Chemical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Chemical Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $87,365 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #16 among the best values for chemical engineering. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for chemical engineering graduates is $18,135. Early-career chemical engineering graduates make about $86,176. Set against $18,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
