100 Best Chemical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Chemical Engineering. A graph of 47.1M citations received by 949K academic papers made by 618 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemical Engineering

#1 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Chemical Engineering

#2 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemical Engineering

#3 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

4. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Chemical Engineering

#4 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Chemical Engineering

#5 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

6. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Chemical Engineering

#6 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Chemical Engineering

#7 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

8. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemical Engineering

#8 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Chemical Engineering

#9 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Chemical Engineering

#10 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Chemical Engineering

#12 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Chemical Engineering

#13 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

13. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Chemical Engineering

#14 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

14. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Chemical Engineering

#15 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Chemical Engineering

#16 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Chemical Engineering

#17 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Chemical Engineering

#18 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Chemical Engineering

#19 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

19. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Chemical Engineering

#20 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

20. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Chemical Engineering

#21 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemical Engineering

#22 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

22. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Chemical Engineering

#23 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

23. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Chemical Engineering

#24 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

24. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Chemical Engineering

#26 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

25. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Chemical Engineering

#27 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

26. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Chemical Engineering

#28 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

27. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Chemical Engineering

#29 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

28. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Chemical Engineering

#32 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Chemical Engineering

#33 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

30. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Chemical Engineering

#34 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Chemical Engineering

#36 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Chemical Engineering

#37 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

33. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Chemical Engineering

#38 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

34. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemical Engineering

#39 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

35. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Chemical Engineering

#40 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

36. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Chemical Engineering

#41 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

37. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Chemical Engineering

#42 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Chemical Engineering

#43 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

39. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Chemical Engineering

#44 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

40. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Chemical Engineering

#45 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Chemical Engineering

#46 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

42. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemical Engineering

#47 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

43. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Chemical Engineering

#48 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

44. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemical Engineering

#49 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Chemical Engineering

#50 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

46. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Chemical Engineering

#51 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

47. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemical Engineering

#52 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

48. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Chemical Engineering

#53 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

49. University of Akron

Ohio | Akron

For Chemical Engineering

#55 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

50. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Chemical Engineering

#56 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

51. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Chemical Engineering

#57 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

52. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Chemical Engineering

#58 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

53. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Chemical Engineering

#59 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

54. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Chemical Engineering

#60 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

55. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Chemical Engineering

#62 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

56. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Chemical Engineering

#63 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

57. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Chemical Engineering

#64 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

58. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Chemical Engineering

#65 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

59. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Chemical Engineering

#67 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

60. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemical Engineering

#68 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

61. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Chemical Engineering

#69 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

62. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Chemical Engineering

#71 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

63. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Chemical Engineering

#72 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

64. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Chemical Engineering

#73 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

65. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Chemical Engineering

#74 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

66. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemical Engineering

#75 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

67. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Chemical Engineering

#76 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemical Engineering

#77 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

69. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Chemical Engineering

#78 in North America

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Chemical Engineering

#79 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Chemical Engineering

#80 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

72. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemical Engineering

#81 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

73. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Chemical Engineering

#82 in North America

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

74. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Chemical Engineering

#83 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,289

75. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Chemical Engineering

#85 in North America

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

76. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Chemical Engineering

#86 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

77. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Chemical Engineering

#87 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 97%

78. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Chemical Engineering

#88 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

79. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Chemical Engineering

#90 in North America

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

80. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemical Engineering

#91 in North America

#375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

81. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Chemical Engineering

#92 in North America

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

82. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Chemical Engineering

#93 in North America

#380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

83. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Chemical Engineering

#94 in North America

#391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

84. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Chemical Engineering

#96 in North America

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Chemical Engineering

#97 in North America

#397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

86. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Chemical Engineering

#98 in North America

#407 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

87. University of Arkansas

Arkansas | Fayetteville

For Chemical Engineering

#100 in North America

#412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 73%

88. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Chemical Engineering

#101 in North America

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Chemical Engineering

#102 in North America

#424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Chemical Engineering

#104 in North America

#426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Chemical Engineering

#105 in North America

#429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Chemical Engineering

#106 in North America

#446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

93. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Chemical Engineering

#107 in North America

#457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

94. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemical Engineering

#109 in North America

#470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

95. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Chemical Engineering

#110 in North America

#487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

96. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Chemical Engineering

#111 in North America

#491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

97. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Chemical Engineering

#112 in North America

#499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

98. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Chemical Engineering

#113 in North America

#502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Chemical Engineering

#115 in North America

#516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

100. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Chemical Engineering

#116 in North America

#518 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

The best cities to study Chemical Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Berkeley, Atlanta, and Austin.