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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Great Lakes Region

34 Ranked Colleges
2,284 Degrees Awarded
$33,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 12,917 people earned their degree in chemical engineering, making the major the 70th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, chemical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $65,870 and had an average of $23,285 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,284 chemical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $66,356 and $23,854 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in chemical engineering. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their chemical engineering program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The chem eng school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region chem eng students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Chemical Engineering in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 34 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology

2

Out of the 34 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #2 spot on the list. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized school located in Houghton, Michigan that handed out 119 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Michigan Technological University

3
Trine crest
Trine University
Angola, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trine University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Trine is located in Angola, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Trine University

4
Kettering crest
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kettering University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region. Kettering is a private not-for-profit institution located in Flint, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Kettering University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois Institute of Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 73 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois Tech Chemical Engineering Report

6
MSOE crest
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #6, Milwaukee School of Engineering did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. MSOE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at MSOE

7
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Notre Dame is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Notre Dame, Indiana. It awarded 88 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of Notre Dame

8
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 237 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Chemical Engineering Report

9

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 104 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

10

Cleveland State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Cleveland State University

11

With a ranking of #11, Case Western Reserve University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Case Western Chemical Engineering Report

12

Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 43 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Youngstown State University

13
University of Toledo crest
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

University of Toledo ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Toledo Chemical Engineering Report

14
UDayton crest
University of Dayton
Dayton, Ohio

University of Dayton did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. UDayton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Dayton

15

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 181 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

16

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school awarded 200 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Ohio State University - Main Campus

17

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 177 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at U-M

18
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 56 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

Full WMU Chemical Engineering Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

20

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 85 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago

21
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 112 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Michigan State Chemical Engineering Report

22
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 55 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at UChicago

23

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison

24

Miami University - Oxford ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 32 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Miami University - Oxford

25
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern University Chemical Engineering Report

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