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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send chemical engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid chemical engineering graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $120,160 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Notre Dame earned it the #2 place for chemical engineering. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame typically earn about $113,065 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $102,023 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $106,661.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $107,589 per year.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #6 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,005.
University Of Dayton ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a private not-for-profit institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of about $99,917 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #8 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $100,000 a year early in their careers.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $94,979 a year early in their careers.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #10 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Cincinnati. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus typically earn about $92,906 annually.
University Of Toledo landed the #11 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Toledo typically earn about $96,237 annually.
Michigan Technological University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University typically earn about $95,207 annually.
Michigan State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $95,843 per year.
Miami University Oxford placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,829.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,429.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point landed the #16 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,047.
Wayne State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Wayne State University make a median of around $100,634 per year.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #18 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Akron Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Akron. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,451.
Trine University placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,865.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,955.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #21 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Ohio University Main Campus make a median of around $88,141 per year.
Cleveland State University earned the #22 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of about $84,127 a year early in their careers.
Youngstown State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Youngstown State University typically earn about $82,846 annually.
Western Michigan University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University typically earn about $83,294 annually.
Kettering University came in at #25 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Kettering University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Kettering University make a median of around $71,411 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning chemical engineering graduates:
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 · 27 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.