by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemical Engineering](/majors/engineering/chemical-engineering/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find where chemical engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose chemical engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 for chemical engineering graduate salaries in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Cornell University typically earn about $114,309 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $95,951 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Manhattan College earned it the #3 place for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $92,741.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at New Jersey Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from New Jersey Institute Of Technology make a median of around $92,412 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Drexel University earned it the #5 place for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Drexel University earn a median of about $102,064 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #6 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick make a median of around $90,181 per year.
University At Buffalo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University At Buffalo make a median of around $67,692 per year.
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 · 7 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.