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 highest-paying schools turn a chemical engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 32 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.
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus typically earn about $115,895 annually.
Tulane University Of Louisiana produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,174.
University Of Florida produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida typically earn about $104,630 annually.
Auburn University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Auburn University typically earn about $108,040 annually.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus typically earn about $101,692 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #6 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $103,529.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #7 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of about $111,631 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #8 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $99,194 a year early in their careers.
Mississippi State University landed the #9 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Mississippi State University typically earn about $104,589 annually.
Vanderbilt University landed the #10 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Vanderbilt University typically earn about $105,943 annually.
University Of Arkansas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Arkansas typically earn about $101,541 annually.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,912.
Clemson University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $98,731 annually.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #14 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University make a median of around $91,990 per year.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #15 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of about $87,314 a year early in their careers.
Florida State University landed the #16 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Florida State University make a median of around $98,253 per year.
University Of Louisville ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. University Of Louisville is a public school located in the city of Louisville. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of about $97,933 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from The University Of Tennessee make a median of around $89,398 per year.
The University Of Alabama landed the #19 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,080.
Louisiana Tech University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of about $79,157 a year early in their careers.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #21 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a public school located in the city of Lafayette. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,365.
University Of South Alabama landed the #22 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. University Of South Alabama is a public school located in the city of Mobile. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of about $88,027 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University came in at #23 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from West Virginia University typically earn about $89,812 annually.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Located in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from West Virginia University Institute Of Technology make a median of around $89,812 per year.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #25 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of about $76,685 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid chemical engineering ranking:
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 · 32 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.
