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 12 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.
For graduate earnings in chemical engineering, no school beat Kansas State University this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $105,727 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earned it the #2 place for chemical engineering. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a public school located in the city of Rapid City. Chemical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of about $102,160 a year early in their careers.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $101,125.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa State University one of the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University typically earn about $96,097 annually.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemical engineering schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Nebraska Lincoln make a median of around $89,055 per year.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #6 for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,985.
University Of Iowa earned the #7 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Iowa make a median of around $90,804 per year.
University Of North Dakota placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. University Of North Dakota is a public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of about $92,442 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #9 spot for chemical engineering salaries this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. After graduating, chemical engineering degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia typically earn about $91,298 annually.
University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #10 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Early-career chemical engineering graduates from University Of Minnesota Duluth make a median of around $90,849 per year.
University Of Kansas placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for chemical engineering. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Chemical Engineering graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of about $86,557 a year early in their careers.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #12 position for chemical engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemical engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,801.
This list is compiled 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 · 12 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.
