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.
College Factual analyzed 6 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.
Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 for chemical engineering graduate salaries in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology make a median of around $124,650 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Tufts University earned it the #2 place for chemical engineering. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Tufts University make a median of around $115,375 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in chemical engineering will find them at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute typically earn about $100,777 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Northeastern University one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $104,660.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #5 place for chemical engineering. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Massachusetts Lowell make a median of around $100,143 per year.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public school located in the city of Amherst. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Massachusetts Amherst make a median of around $96,939 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their chemical engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 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.