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 schools below stand out for the salaries their chemical engineering graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 4 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.
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid chemical engineering graduates in Illinois. 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.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. 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.
Strong graduate earnings at Illinois Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for chemical engineering. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology typically earn about $94,955 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #4 place for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,756.
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 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.