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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Chemical Engineering

208 Ranked Colleges
12,917 Degrees Awarded
$34,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Chemical Engineering is the 70th most popular major in the country with 12,917 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major” ranking, we looked at 208 colleges that offer a degree in chemical engineering. That schools that top this list have a program in chemical engineering in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

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”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Chemical Engineering

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Cooper Union

2
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colorado School of Mines. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Located in Golden, Colorado, this medium-sized public school awarded 154 degrees to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

3

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. SD Mines is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at SD Mines

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 35 degrees to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national 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 more about Chemical Engineering at Rose - Hulman Institute of Technology

5

Out of the 208 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #5 spot on the list. Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 119 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Michigan Tech

6

University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking, coming in at #6. Mayaguez, is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 122 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Chemical Engineering Report

7

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Socorro, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full New Mexico Tech Chemical Engineering Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 120 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 full report on Chemical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

9
Lafayette crest
Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania

Lafayette College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Located in Easton, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 35 degrees to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Lafayette College

10

West Virginia University Institute of Technology came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. West Virginia University Tech is a small school located in Beckley, West Virginia that handed out 10 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at West Virginia University Tech

11

Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. This small school is located in Hato Rey, , and it awarded 29 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico

12

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a medium-sized school located in Troy, New York that handed out 97 ’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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full RPI Chemical Engineering Report

13

California Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at California Institute of Technology

14
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

Tuskegee University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Located in Tuskegee, Alabama, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Tuskegee

15
Clarkson crest
Clarkson University
Potsdam, New York

Clarkson University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking, coming in at #15. Clarkson University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Potsdam, New York. It awarded 48 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Clarkson

16
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s chem eng degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

17
Pitt Johnstown crest
University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Pitt Johnstown is located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Pitt Johnstown

18
Trine crest
Trine University
Angola, Indiana

With a ranking of #18, Trine University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Trine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Angola, Indiana. It awarded 21 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.

Full Trine Chemical Engineering Report

19

New Jersey Institute of Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. New Jersey Institute of Technology is a fairly large school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 112 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology

20
Manhattan crest
Manhattan College
Riverdale, New York

Manhattan College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Riverdale, New York. It awarded 40 ’s chem eng degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Manhattan

21
Kettering crest
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan

With a ranking of #21, Kettering University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Kettering is located in Flint, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

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 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at Kettering University

22

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 73 diplomas to qualified ’s chem eng students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Chemical Engineering Report

23
Bucknell crest
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #23, Bucknell University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major list. Bucknell is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Chemical Engineering at Bucknell

24
PVAMU crest
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking, coming in at #24. Prairie View A & M University is located in Prairie View, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Chemical Engineering at PVAMU

25
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major ranking. Lehigh is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 66 ’s chem eng degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Lehigh Chemical Engineering Report

Rest of the Best 32 in Schools Highly Focused on Chem Eng Major

Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
University of Tulsa crest
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
27
MSOE crest
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
28
MSU Bozeman crest
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana
29
30
31
32
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

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