100 Best Chemical Engineering schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 49.5M citations received by 966K academic papers made by 621 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: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Chemical Engineering

#2 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemical Engineering

#3 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

4. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Chemical Engineering

#4 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

5. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Chemical Engineering

#5 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

6. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Chemical Engineering

#6 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Chemical Engineering

#7 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

8. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemical Engineering

#8 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Chemical Engineering

#9 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Chemical Engineering

#10 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Chemical Engineering

#12 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Chemical Engineering

#13 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

13. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Chemical Engineering

#14 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

14. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Chemical Engineering

#15 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Chemical Engineering

#16 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Chemical Engineering

#17 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Chemical Engineering

#18 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Chemical Engineering

#19 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

19. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Chemical Engineering

#20 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

20. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemical Engineering

#21 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

21. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Chemical Engineering

#22 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

22. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Chemical Engineering

#23 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

23. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Chemical Engineering

#24 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

24. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Chemical Engineering

#26 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

25. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Chemical Engineering

#27 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

26. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Chemical Engineering

#28 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

27. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Chemical Engineering

#30 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

28. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Chemical Engineering

#32 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

29. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Chemical Engineering

#33 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

30. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Chemical Engineering

#35 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Chemical Engineering

#36 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

32. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Chemical Engineering

#37 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Chemical Engineering

#38 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Chemical Engineering

#39 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

35. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemical Engineering

#40 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

36. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Chemical Engineering

#41 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

37. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Chemical Engineering

#42 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Chemical Engineering

#43 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

39. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Chemical Engineering

#44 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

40. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemical Engineering

#45 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

41. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Chemical Engineering

#46 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Chemical Engineering

#47 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

43. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemical Engineering

#48 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

44. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Chemical Engineering

#49 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Chemical Engineering

#50 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

46. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Chemical Engineering

#51 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

47. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemical Engineering

#52 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

48. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Chemical Engineering

#53 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

49. University of Akron

Ohio | Akron

For Chemical Engineering

#55 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 97%

50. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Chemical Engineering

#56 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

51. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Chemical Engineering

#57 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

52. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Chemical Engineering

#58 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

53. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Chemical Engineering

#59 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

54. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Chemical Engineering

#60 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

55. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Chemical Engineering

#62 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

56. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Chemical Engineering

#63 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

57. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Chemical Engineering

#64 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

58. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Chemical Engineering

#66 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Chemical Engineering

#67 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

60. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemical Engineering

#68 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

61. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Chemical Engineering

#70 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

62. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Chemical Engineering

#71 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Chemical Engineering

#72 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

64. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Chemical Engineering

#73 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Chemical Engineering

#74 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemical Engineering

#75 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

67. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Chemical Engineering

#76 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

68. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemical Engineering

#77 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

69. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Chemical Engineering

#78 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

70. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Chemical Engineering

#79 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Chemical Engineering

#80 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

72. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemical Engineering

#81 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

73. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Chemical Engineering

#82 in North America

#343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

74. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Chemical Engineering

#84 in North America

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

75. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Chemical Engineering

#85 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

76. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Chemical Engineering

#86 in North America

#361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 98%

77. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Chemical Engineering

#87 in North America

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

78. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Chemical Engineering

#88 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

79. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Chemical Engineering

#90 in North America

#378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

80. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Chemical Engineering

#91 in North America

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

81. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemical Engineering

#92 in North America

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

82. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Chemical Engineering

#93 in North America

#392 in the World

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

83. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Chemical Engineering

#94 in North America

#394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

84. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Chemical Engineering

#96 in North America

#399 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

#401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

86. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Chemical Engineering

#99 in North America

#412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

87. University of Arkansas

Arkansas | Fayetteville

For Chemical Engineering

#100 in North America

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 77%

88. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Chemical Engineering

#101 in North America

#422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

89. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Chemical Engineering

#102 in North America

#431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

90. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Chemical Engineering

#104 in North America

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Chemical Engineering

#105 in North America

#439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

92. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Chemical Engineering

#106 in North America

#455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

93. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Chemical Engineering

#107 in North America

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

94. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemical Engineering

#109 in North America

#477 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

95. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Chemical Engineering

#110 in North America

#493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

96. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Chemical Engineering

#111 in North America

#502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

97. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Chemical Engineering

#112 in North America

#504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

98. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Chemical Engineering

#114 in North America

#515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

99. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Chemical Engineering

#115 in North America

#520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

100. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Chemical Engineering

#116 in North America

#525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

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.