The Best Chemical Engineering Schools in the U.S. provide extensive discipline knowledge to students admitted into these schools. Chemical engineers are the backbone of our modern society. They are responsible for developing new processes and products, from plastics to pharmaceuticals to fuels.
However, considering it from a chemical engineering perspective, that’s an extensive range of potential careers. This major can take you anywhere if you love chemistry and working with chemicals.
Best Chemical Engineering Universities In The States Ranked
We will discuss the best chemical engineering schools in the U.S., where you can choose to study and obtain the required expertise for the practice of chemical engineering and all other related disciplines. The best chemical engineering schools include:
MIT also strongly focuses on research programs and internships that aid in training graduates from this prestigious institute. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT boasts one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, as well as plenty of activities for fun off-campus days.
Tuition: $55,87
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Number of Undergraduates: 4,361
Student to Faculty Ratio: 3:1
SAT/ACT: 1510-1580 SAT, 34-36 ACT
2. Georgia Institute of Technology
You can get a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in chemical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The school offers several undergraduate concentrations, including biomolecular and chemical systems engineering.
Students can also specialize in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy, and green chemistry. The University boasts excellent research facilities, including a Center for Advanced Microelectromechanical Systems (CAMEMS), where students work on micro-scale devices like switches and actuators.
It also houses the Southeast Energy Research Center (SERC), which sponsors projects designed to improve energy efficiency across transportation, construction, and manufacturing industries.
Tuition: $33,794 (out of state), $12,689 (in-state)
Acceptance Rate: 21%
Number of Undergraduates: 18,061
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
SAT: 1399-1530 SAT
3. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley is the oldest campus in the U.C. system and has a reputation for academic excellence. It’s also located in one of America’s most beautiful cities, so you’ll never be bored. Berkeley offers students various programs: Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering (MSE). The school boasts a diverse student body with international students representing over 40 countries.
The research performed at Berkeley is funded by many governmental agencies, including NASA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy (DOE). Large-scale industry collaborations include Dow Chemical Company and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC.
The faculty members have won numerous awards, including seven Nobel Prizes! They are committed to helping their students succeed professionally and personally so they can positively impact their communities through science or technology innovation.
Tuition: $44,115 (out of state), $14,361 ( in State)
Acceptance Rate: 7.6%
Number of Undergraduates: 25,451
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1
SAT: 660-790
4. California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. It was founded in 1891 by Amos G. Throop. It is ranked the best University in the world by Times Higher Education.
According to Q.S. World University Rankings 2020, Caltech has been ranked as the best University in North America and 7th globally overall, 4th globally for Engineering & I.T. (behind Georgia Institute Of Technology), 1st globally for Materials Science & Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering (behind Stanford University).
Tuition: $58,680
Acceptance Rate: 6.7%
Number of Undergraduates: 901
Student to Faculty Ratio: 3:1
SAT: 1545-1600
5. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research university in Stanford, California. It has been described as one of the most prestigious universities in the world. The University was founded in 1891 by a U.S. Senator, Leland Stanford, and his wife, Jane Lathrop Stanford, as a memorial to their only son, Leland Jr., who had died at age 15 the previous year.
As of 2018, Stanford enrolled 16,871 undergraduate students and 658 graduate students representing 50 states and 157 countries, respectively. The student-to-faculty ratio of Standford is roughly 9:1; about 48% of classes have fewer than 20 students, with lectures occasionally being delivered by professors who are members of the National Academy or other distinguished scholars from around the world who come to campus for this purpose each year (without any compensation).
Tuition: $56,169
Acceptance Rate: 43.7%
Number of Undergraduates: 3705
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
SAT: 1500-1600
6. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Johns Hopkins has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,734, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 200 acres. The University has been ranked among the top 10 universities in the United States for 18 consecutive years.
It has been consistently ranked as one of the top 20 universities worldwide, along with Oxford University and Cambridge University, since 2011 by Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings.
Tuition: $58,720
Acceptance Rate:11.1%
Number of Undergraduates: 6,331
Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1
SAT: 1450 or more
7. The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is one of the top engineering schools in the country. It is also one of the top public schools in the country, and it ranks among the best schools in Texas and America’s Big 12 Conference. The University was founded in 1883 as a land-grant institution (a public school established by Congress through legislation).
UT Austin has been ranked first among public universities for its academic research since 2011 by U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings. In addition to its undergraduate program, UT Austin offers graduate degrees through its six colleges: Business, Education; Engineering; Liberal Arts; Nursing; Pharmacy.
Tuition: $40,032 (in-state), $11,448 (out of state)
Acceptance Rate: 33%
Number of Undergraduates: 647
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
SAT/ACT: 620 or more SAT, 26 or more ACT
8. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, is ranked #11 by U.S. News & World Report and #1 in chemical engineering, making it the best-ranked school for this subject area. It also ranks #1 for chemical engineering research and #2 for graduate programs, faculty research, and undergraduate programs.
The school offers a Bachelor of Science with two specializations: bioprocessing and chemical process systems engineering (CPSE). Both are rigorous degrees that take four years to complete full-time or five years part-time.
Students can choose from more than 40 minors if they want to add depth to their coursework or prepare themselves for an interdisciplinary career path outside of their major field of study; these include multiple options like business administration or bioengineering that pair well with CPSE’s core focus on clean technology applications in biotechnology processes like pharmaceuticals synthesis or food production systems design.
Tuition: $33,843 (out of State), $15,253 (in State)
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Number of Undergraduates: 36,061
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
SAT/ACT: Not compulsory
9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (also known as UIUC) is a public research-intensive university located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1867 as the first public university in Illinois.
The school offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees through its colleges: College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine & Applied Arts (film & media studies), Gies College for Public Service (public policy), Graduate School, School for Social Work, and School of Information Sciences.
Tuition: $34,316 (out of state), $16,866 (in-state)
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Number of Undergraduates: 2,089
Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1
SAT: 1220-1480 SAT,
10. University of Delaware
The University of Delaware is a public research university located in Newark, Delaware, United States. It’s the largest University in Delaware and a member of the Association of American Universities. The University is organized into seven colleges: Agriculture, Arts and Humanities, Business Administration and Economics; Engineering; Health Sciences; Nursing and Physical Therapy; Science & Mathematics; Social Work & Public Policy.
The University offers over 200-degree programs at the bachelor’s level across its eight undergraduate colleges: Art & Design (BFA), Biology (B.S.), Business Administration (B.A.), Chemistry (B.S.), Civil Engineering Technology Management (BSETM), Computer Science (BCS), Earth Systems Science Program Environmental Science Track(BSETM-SPECIALIST)and Physics(BSPH).
Tuition: $36,880 (out of State), $15,020 (in State)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Number of Undergraduates: 18,420
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
SAT/ACT: 1210-1360 SAT, 27-32 ACT
11. University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the leading public research universities in the United States. It was established in 1848 and had one of the largest campuses in the country, with more than 27,000 students enrolled (undergraduate and graduate). Its strengths are its academics (especially chemical engineering), research output, and reputation for innovation.
The University has been consistently recognized as one of the top 50 universities in the world by U.S. News & World Report’s rankings since 1998, so you can be confident that you will receive an exceptional education at this school.
Tuition: $38,608 (out of state), $10,720 (in State)
Acceptance Rate: 18.7%
Number of Undergraduates: 33,585
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
SAT/ACT: 2860 SAT, 26 or more ACT
12. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817 in Detroit as the Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania, it was the first state-supported institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory.
In 1960, the University moved to Ann Arbor. It became part of the federal government’s Higher Education Act when it was designated as a land-grant institution under Title 15 of the U.S. Code (the Morrill Act).
Tuition: $53,232(out of state), $16,178 (in State)
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Number of Undergraduates: 31,329
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
SAT/ACT: 1400-1540 SAT, 32-35 ACT
13. Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution.
The University moved to Newark in 1747, then to Princeton in 1756. It was renamed Princeton University after receiving a substantial endowment from Scottish merchant John Witherspoon. Witherspoon had donated £850 “as a charitable contribution to create a public school” (to teach both Greek and Latin), which was matched by an equal amount from his friend Robert Barclay for building construction at the college.
The first major expansion since 1662 took place under President James McCosh when he added three buildings between 1872 and 1884 that makeup today’s historical core: Nassau Hall (1879), Jessup Hall (1879), and Butler Library (1884).
Carnegie Mellon University offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees through more than 20 departments, including Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Department, Computer Science & Robotics Department, and Electrical & Systems Engineering Department, with programs like bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering; Masters Programs such as M.S. in Energy Engineering; Ph.D. programs such as Ph.D. in Environmental Sustainability Science are offered by Carnegie Mellon University.
Tuition: $58,924
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Number of Undergraduates: 7,073
Student to Faculty Ratio: 6:1
SAT/ACT: Not Required for admission
15. Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York. It is the land-grant University of New York State and the state’s statutory college of agriculture and life sciences. Cornell was founded on April 27, 1865; Ezra Cornell had previously co-founded Michigan Agricultural College (which would eventually become Michigan State University) before he switched his attention to establishing a new institution in New York. He said he wanted it to be “open to all” and dedicated to “the application of science to the common purposes of life.”
The University was initially named Cornell University after its founder’s father, DeWitt Clinton Cornell Jr., who was an ardent believer in higher education for both men and women; however, it later changed its name when it merged with existing schools from 1870 to 1875: Syracuse Medical College (1870), Albany Medical College (1871), Union College of Law (1871). Cornell University is one of the best Chemical Engineering Schools in the U.S., given the school’s research advancements.
Tuition: $61,015
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Number of Undergraduates: 14,743
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
SAT/ACT: Not required or expected
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about the top schools for chemical engineering in the United States. If you’re considering applying to any of these colleges, check and confirm that they will serve your other needs aside from sound education in chemical engineering.
