by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a chemical engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools.
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Below are the schools whose chemical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Carnegie Mellon University, our #1 for chemical engineering graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University typically earn about $122,523 annually.
San Jose State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $115,218 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $154,695.
Strong graduate earnings at Texas A And M University College Station earned it the #4 place for chemical engineering. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station typically earn about $123,773 annually.
Rice University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,477.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #6 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $126,322.
Cornell University earned the #7 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Cornell University make a median of around $118,510 per year.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $124,650 annually.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #9 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus typically earn about $115,895 annually.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #10 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $110,742 per year.
Lamar University landed the #11 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Lamar University make a median of around $110,515 per year.
Northwestern University came in at #12 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $120,160.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,174.
University Of Notre Dame earned the #14 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Notre Dame make a median of around $113,065 per year.
University Of Florida came in at #15 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Florida make a median of around $104,630 per year.
Bucknell University came in at #16 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Chemical Engineering graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of about $110,838 a year early in their careers.
Auburn University came in at #17 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $108,040 a year early in their careers.
Lehigh University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Lehigh University typically earn about $107,647 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $102,023 annually.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #20 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,692.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earned the #21 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. Chemical Engineering graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $106,661 a year early in their careers.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Stillwater. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,170.
Tufts University earned the #23 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Chemical Engineering graduates of Tufts University earn a median of about $115,375 a year early in their careers.
Northeastern University earned the #24 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,660.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo typically earn about $109,703 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning chemical engineering graduates:
Explore the highest-paying chemical engineering schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries chemical engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
