25 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Chemical Engineering

For those who enjoy their science courses but also enjoy designing processes and equipment, engineering is a great fit. Chemical engineering is a subfield of engineering, and its versatility lends itself well to high-paying careers across many industries. Some professional chemical engineers work in laboratories, while others work in industrial plants and refineries. Overall, engineers are employed by private and public organizations to research, assist, and analyze systems and processes.     While a bachelor degree is the typical entry-level education for chemical engineers, the number of necessary jobs is expected to grow eight percent by 2026. Only two years ago, in 2018, the median pay for chemical engineers was reportedly $104,910, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics. When thinking about completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, it is important first to consider whether or not the program offers cooperative or other hands-on opportunities for its students. These can come in the form of research programs, internships, or co-ops for students. For those looking to go onto graduate school, experience in a research lab setting can be very valuable. Next, many programs have areas of specialization. Some examples of these include biotechnology, materials science, chemistry, and even business. These can complement a degree and provide valuable knowledge that can be useful when applying for jobs or graduate school. Finally, ABET is the standard accrediting agency for engineering programs, and one should see if their program is accredited. With all that in mind, check out the 25 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemical Engineering for 2020.  

Methodology

Best College Reviews provides degree rankings, such as the [title of article], from carefully researched data sets published from government and non-profit organizations across the United States. Five primary factors affect how we rank degrees: – 25% Student Satisfaction   – 30% Earning Potential – 15% Retention Data – 20% Affordability – 10% Acceptance Rates For an in-depth breakdown of how we calculate each ranking, check out our Methodology page.    

#25 CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 81.8 The California Institute of Technology starts off this list with the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Caltech works to help students to think critically about systems, processes, and experiments from an interdisciplinary perspective. At the end of the sophomore year, students choose between four tracks to specialize in, which are Biomolecular, Environmental, Materials, and Process Systems. Students of CIT complete courses such as Optimal Design of Chemical Systems, Polymer Physics, and Molecular Imaging. Students can also submit to the Caltech Undergraduate Research Journal. Students must take at least 17 core classes in addition to electives and general education requirements. Net Price: $24,466  

#24 UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 81.8 At the University of Florida, students can earn their Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. In this program, students take 134 credit hours of coursework for their degree, which includes classes like Separation and Mass Transfer Operations, Materials of Chemical Engineering, and Process Costing and Economic Analysis. For those who wish to go on to medical school, UF has a Pre-Health course of study prepared. On the other hand, for those who want to pursue further study in chemical engineering, there is a combined BS/Master of Science in Chemical Engineering program where both degrees can be earned in five years. Net Price: $15,283  

#23 SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 82.1 At Syracuse University, students build their problem-solving skills while also learning about the fundamentals of engineering before they delve more deeply into discipline-specific study in the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Program. The program consists of 128 credits and includes courses such as Mass and Energy Balances, Fluid Transport, and Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics. Furthermore, faculty members regularly work with students on their research, and students also able to apply these skills through cooperative experiences. Further, students can earn either a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in addition to their BS within five years. There are also several student organizations and study abroad opportunities in which students can participate. This is an ABET-accredited program. Net Price: $35,306  

#22 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 82.1 Princeton University offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering program in which students can focus on chemical engineering. The course of study requires 36 classes in the major, with titles including Mass, Momentum, and Energy Transport, or Design Synthesis and Optimization of Chemical Processes. Within the chemical engineering field, students can choose from six areas of concentration, which include Bioengineering & Biotechnology; Entrepreneurship & Managemen; and Science & Engineering for New Technologies. Students can also get involved with the Student Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, and the Engineering Council, among other student organizations. Net Price: $16,302  

#21 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 82.4 The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Chemical Engineering that is accredited by ABET. This BSE requires 128 credit hours of coursework, and students can choose from a variety of concentration options, including BioPharmaceutical Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, Life Sciences, and Petroleum and Gas Exploration. UMAA students also pursue several combined degree programs in which students earn two BS degrees in two fields of engineering or a BS and a BA in a liberal arts major. There is also the option for students to do a five-year BS/Master of Science in Engineering in Chemical Engineering. Net Price: $16,408  

#20 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 82.5 Students can graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Renowned for its focus on the sciences, students can benefit from an intellectual tradition that also happens to be accredited by ABET. Students must earn between 192-195 units beyond the general Institute requirements to graduate. MIT is also home to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program in which students can take part in serious academic research with the potential to earn either academic credit or be paid for their work. Students can also complete concentrations, the options for which include  Computation, Manufacturing Design, and Process Data Analytics. Net Price: $22,230  

#19 UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES

BACHELOR OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 82.8 The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree. In this ABET-accredited program, students take part in cooperative experiences and internships throughout their time at UM. There are also many opportunities to research to help students better prepare for graduate school. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers student chapter is also very active on campus. Some students also choose to study abroad. In total, 122 credit hours of coursework are required for graduation. For their technical electives, students can elect to take courses like Biological Transport Processes, Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetics, and Electrochemical Engineering and Renewable Energy. Net Price: $16,808  

#18 UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 83.4 The University of Notre Dame prides itself on ensuring that students receive a scientific humanities background in conjunction with the major specific coursework completed on the way to the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Students become well-versed in the fundamentals of the field, drawing on them as they progress further into the degree and into engineering careers. Overall, students take 130 credits worth of classes, and their program of study is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students can also choose from the following three concentrations to complement their degree, which involves Biomolecular Engineering, Materials, and Energy. Net Price: $27,453  

#17 KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 84.0 Students can earn a 128-credit Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University. In this program, students take classes like Transport Phenomena, Computational Techniques in Chemical Engineering, and Health and Safety in Chemical Engineering. Students at KSU also take part in study abroad opportunities and complete an internship during their education. The university also has its own chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, which brings a variety of speakers to campus. Finally, students can get involved with the Chem-E Car team build to put together a car that is powered by a chemical reaction. Net Price: $17,465  

#16 PURDUE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 84.0 Purdue University assists students in becoming engineers who have the tools to steadily advance in their careers through its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program. This degree requires 130 credit hours for graduation, and it is ABET-accredited. Outside of the classroom, students are involved with organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Purdue Student Engineering Foundation. There are also study abroad opportunities in Switzerland, Singapore, Australia, Ecuador, and several others. Purdue also allows students to complete cooperative experiences and take part in research with a faculty member.   Net Price: $12,117  

#15 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 84.9 The University of Texas at Austin identifies the versatility of the field of engineering and prepares its students to work in a variety of fields through its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program. A minimum of 128 credits of coursework is required for students to graduate. While in the program, students can research as Undergraduate Research Assistants, and it’s possible for students to either receive credit or be paid for their experiences. Additionally, students can get involved with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers UT Austin student chapter, the American Chemical Society, and Omega Chi Epsilon, which is the national honor society for chemical engineers. Net Price: $14,356  

#14 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 85.7 Michigan State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree that requires 128 credit hours of coursework. Students can choose from concentrations in biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, and polymer science and engineering. MSU also has several opportunities for chemical engineering students to study abroad in Australia, Spain, and Taiwan. There are also several state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Unit Operations Laboratory; Polymers and Composites Processing Laboratory; and the Biochemical Engineering Laboratory. This program is also accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.   Net Price: $16,684  

#13 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 86.6 The McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program that is accredited by ABET.  Students can also minor in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering, or specialize in Bioengineering, Chemical Process Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Sustainability, Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering. and more.  Sixteen courses are required in this major, including classes like Mass Transfer, Process Economics, Design, & Evaluation, and Kinetics and Reactor Engineering. Further, students can also complete cooperative experiences.  Finally, Northwestern has a combined BS/Master of Science in Chemical Engineering program, which can be completed in four years. Net Price: $26,099  

#12 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING Website Score: 87.4 Johns Hopkins University has created a program in which students can apply engineering solutions to the issues of the world in its Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. This degree requires 128 credits of coursework, and in it, students take part in collaborative research programs at the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, the Applied Physics Laboratory, and government laboratories. Students can also study abroad during their time at Johns Hopkins. There are also opportunities to choose from tracks in Molecular & Cell Biology and Interfaces & Nanotechnology. Net Price: $29,066  

#11 UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 87.6 The University of Virginia prepares its students for graduate and professional careers through its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. This program requires 128 credit hours of coursework, and students can choose from two tracks outside of the general curriculum, which are the Biotechnology concentration curriculum, and the Pre-Med curriculum. Available courses include Chemical Reaction Engineering, Transport Processes, and Computer Model & Simulation in Chemical Engineering. At UVA, students can also study abroad while in the program as well as complete undergraduate research as early as their first year at the university. Scholarships are also available for students, both for tuition and for conducting research. Net Price: $16,594  

#10 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 87.7 Columbia University offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering that requires 133 points of study. This program prepares students to become leaders in the field of engineering, and it gives them the chance to grow their professional skills to achieve this.  Columbia students can also intern and study abroad while in the engineering program by carefully coordinating with the academic requirements of the program. Some of the countries that students can choose from include Spain, China, South Africa, and Scotland. There, they have taken courses like Molecular Phenomena, Biochemical Engineering, and Ordinary Differential Equations. Net Price: $22,824  

#9 GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING. Website Score: 87.8 Georgia Institute of Technology has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering program that grows students’ abilities to address engineering problems and then apply them to real-world issues. Students can also choose between a general option and a Biotechnology option. Both are accredited by ABET. GIT also allows students to complete a five-year BS/Master of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. There are also cooperative experiences, and the cooperative program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education. This is a 132 credit degree, which includes courses like Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Process Control, and Kinetics and Reactor Design. Net Price: $15,873  

#8 ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 88.4 The Illinois Institute of Technology ensures that students are proficient in areas of engineering like fluid mechanics, heat transfer operations, control-system design, and many others through its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program. In addition to their majors, students can complete specializations in Environmental Engineering, Bioengineering, Process Design and Operation, and more. The BSCE at IIT requires 132-133 credit hours of coursework, where students can also research in the Program for Undergraduate Research Education and develop research-based technology in the Mentored Innovation and Development program. Students can also complete a BS and a Master of Applied Science in a variety of different engineering fields. Net Price: $26,324  

#7 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 88.5 Cornell University allows students to customize the coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program to help them best prepare for their careers after graduation. The BS requires 131 credits for graduation, and there is a heavy emphasis on chemistry within the program. The curriculum culminates in a capstone design course in which students put together a semester-long project. The course of study also includes courses like Chemical Process Design, Practice of Chemical Engineering Product Design, and Mass and Energy Balances. Students can also choose from specializations in Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering; Computer-Aided Design; Polymer Processing, and Quality Control. Net Price: $31,449  

#6 NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 89.5 North Carolina State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree in which students can choose from two concentrations. These are the Biomanufacturing Sciences concentration and the Biomolecular concentration. For the Biomanufacturing concentration, students can also complete a master’s degree in Biomanufacturing in one additional year after completing this concentration. There is also an opportunity to do an accelerated BS/Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program in which students earn both degrees in five years. NCSU is also home to its own chemical engineering honors program. Lastly, students can also take part in a cooperative education program. Net Price: $13,442  

#5 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 90.1 Graduates of the University of California at Los Angeles’ Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering are successful professionals within the chemical, petroleum, electrochemical, semiconductor, nuclear, and plastics industries. UCLA’s BSCE requires up to 130 credits of coursework. Students can also complete concentrations in Biotechnology, Chemical Processing, Environmental Technology, Materials Science and Technology, Applied Physical Science, and Business and Management. Additionally, this is an ABET-accredited program. UCLA also allows students to complete simultaneous degrees in Chemical Engineering and in Business or joint degrees in different types of engineering. Outside of the classroom, there are several undergraduate research opportunities, specifically in the CBE Innovation Incubator Lab at UCLA. Net Price: $14,760  

#4 LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL Website Score: 90.4 Lehigh University brings together in-depth student of the sciences with engineering in its Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering program. It requires 128-134 credit hours, and courses in this program include Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers, Molecular Modeling and Simulation, and Environmental Separation and Control. Students can also minor in Biotechnology, Energy Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing Systems, and others. Lehigh has also established the Opportunities for Student Innovation program, in which senior students work as part of a research team. Study abroad opportunities in the United Kingdom and in Germany are also available. Net Price: $26,933  

#3 VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING IN CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING Website Score: 91.5 The Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering program at Vanderbilt University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The students in this program receive a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, and physics as well as in transport phenomena, thermodynamics, separations, and kinetics. The degree requires 126 credit hours of coursework, and students can choose an emphasis to specialize in if they so choose. Options include Biotechnology, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Engineering Management, Scientific Computing, Environmental Engineering, and Business. With five extra credits of coursework, students can also opt to double major in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. Net Price: $23,295  

#2 UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 94.7 Students at the University of Pennsylvania have an opportunity to earn a top-ranking Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. This degree requires 41 credits of major-specific courses in addition to a liberal arts core curriculum. Within this major, students can also complete a two-course sequence in Product and Process Design in which they receive a problem from a professional in the industry and must create a project to address that issue. UPenn also offers several concentrations for Chemical Engineering students, which are Pharmaceutics and Biotechnology, Polymer Science and Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Nanotechnology. Lastly, students can also grow their research experience with opportunities at the University of Michigan, Tufts University, and the University of Kentucky. Net Price: $24,539  

#1 STANFORD UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Website Score: 100.0 Rounding out the 25 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemical Engineering is Stanford University’s Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. This program requires between 184 and 202 units of study for graduation, which includes fall, winter, and spring terms for four years.   Courses for this program include Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Separation Processes. Additionally, at Stanford, students can also complete a coterminal Master of Science in Chemical Engineering. Outside of the classroom, Stanford students can join the Stanford Chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Summer Research Program. This is a ten-week program in which students conduct paid research. Net Price: $16,562