by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a chemical engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose chemical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 for chemical engineering graduate salaries in California. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,218.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $126,322 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Barbara produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,039.
University Of California Los Angeles produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,166.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Davis one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $109,456 annually.
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $106,401 annually.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #7 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona typically earn about $103,640 annually.
University Of California Riverside placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of about $90,784 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Irvine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $102,280 per year.
University Of California San Diego placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,911.
California State University Long Beach placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $91,493 annually.
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 · 11 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.
