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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their chemical engineering graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 10 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.
Carnegie Mellon University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools in Pennsylvania. 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.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $154,695 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at Bucknell University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Bucknell University make a median of around $110,838 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at Lehigh University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Lehigh University make a median of around $107,647 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Lafayette College one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Lafayette College make a median of around $97,678 per year.
Drexel University came in at #6 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set 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 $103,056 a year early in their careers.
Villanova University landed the #7 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Villanova University typically earn about $100,946 annually.
Widener University Main Campus came in at #8 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Widener University Main Campus earn a median of about $99,021 a year early in their careers.
University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earned the #9 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Johnstown, University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown earn a median of about $93,213 a year early in their careers.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #10 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $93,213.
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 · 10 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.