Best Doctorate in Chemical Engineering Programs
The engineering field offers many specializations, including chemical engineering. Chemical engineers research new manufacturing processes, test equipment, and ensure workers’ safety. Some professionals with a doctorate in chemical engineering also perform original research.
Several top U.S. universities offer on-campus or online doctorate in chemical engineering programs. Most degree-seekers need 4-6 years to graduate. Tuition ranges from approximately $8,000-$55,000 as of July 2022.
When deciding whether to attend graduate school, learners should consider that tuition makes up just one part of a program’s cost of attendance. Other typical expenses include fees, textbooks, and technology. Fortunately, some online programs feature cost savings compared to in-person programs.
Although a doctorate degree can be expensive, many chemical engineering careers pay well above the average salary for all occupations in the U.S. of $58,260. Qualifying for a lucrative job may make taking on debt less of a financial burden for some individuals.
Best Accredited Doctorate in Chemical Engineering Programs
Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team
| Accredited University | Grad Tuition | Program Information |
|---|---|---|
Clemson, South Carolina | In-State | $19,600 Out-of-State | $22,050 | Admission Rate | 51% |
New York City, New York | In-State | $11,090 Out-of-State | $20,520 | Admission Rate | 46% |
CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York City, New York | In-State | $9,930 Out-of-State | $23,160 | Admission Rate | 43% |
Tallahassee, Florida | In-State | $9,684 Out-of-State | $24,116 | Admission Rate | 36% |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, Georgia | In-State | $14,064 Out-of-State | $29,140 | Admission Rate | 21% |
Ames, Iowa | In-State | $9,758 Out-of-State | $24,720 | Admission Rate | 92% |
East Lansing, Michigan | In-State | $18,858 Out-of-State | $37,056 | Admission Rate | 71% |
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina | In-State | $9,095 Out-of-State | $26,421 | Admission Rate | 45% |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio | In-State | $11,560 Out-of-State | $35,144 | Admission Rate | 54% |
West Lafayette, Indiana | In-State | $9,208 Out-of-State | $28,010 | Admission Rate | 60% |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey | In-State | $17,736 Out-of-State | $30,144 | Admission Rate | 61% |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas | In-State | $6,677 Out-of-State | $18,700 | Admission Rate | 58% |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas | In-State | $11,998 Out-of-State | $22,966 | Admission Rate | 32% |
Tulane University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana | In-State | $54,918 Out-of-State | $54,918 | Admission Rate | 13% |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California | In-State | $11,422 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 16% |
University of California-Davis Davis, California | In-State | $11,422 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 39% |
University of California-Irvine Irvine, California | In-State | $11,442 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 27% |
University of California-Los Angeles Los, Angeles, California | In-State | $11,442 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 12% |
University of California-Riverside Riverside, California | In-State | $11,442 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 57% |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California | In-State | $11,442 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 31% |
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California | In-State | $11,442 Out-of-State | $26,544 | Admission Rate | 30% |
Storrs, Connecticut | In-State | $16,300 Out-of-State | $38,212 | Admission Rate | 49% |
Newark, Delaware | In-State | $34,164 Out-of-State | $34,164 | Admission Rate | 71% |
Gainesville, Florida | In-State | $10,770 Out-of-State | $27,335 | Admission Rate | 37% |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois | In-State | $14,997 Out-of-State | $28,404 | Admission Rate | 59% |
University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland | In-State | $13,158 Out-of-State | $29,250 | Admission Rate | 44% |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan | In-State | $23,890 Out-of-State | $48,204 | Admission Rate | 23% |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota | In-State | $17,580 Out-of-State | $27,204 | Admission Rate | 57% |
University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, Missouri | In-State | $9,264 Out-of-State | $25,363 | Admission Rate | 81% |
University of South Florida-Main Campus Tampa, Florida | In-State | $8,350 Out-of-State | $19,048 | Admission Rate | 48% |
Salt Lake City, Utah | In-State | $7,211 Out-of-State | $25,455 | Admission Rate | 62% |
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia | In-State | $16,578 Out-of-State | $27,770 | Admission Rate | 24% |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington | In-State | $18,198 Out-of-State | $32,439 | Admission Rate | 52% |
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin | In-State | $10,728 Out-of-State | $24,054 | Admission Rate | 54% |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia | In-State | $13,701 Out-of-State | $27,614 | Admission Rate | 70% |
| Accredited University | Grad Tuition | Program Information |
|---|---|---|
Provo, Utah | In-State | $7,290 Out-of-State | $7,290 | Admission Rate | 67% |
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania | In-State | $45,037 Out-of-State | $45,037 | Admission Rate | 15% |
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio | In-State | $46,524 Out-of-State | $46,524 | Admission Rate | 27% |
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York | In-State | $47,600 Out-of-State | $47,600 | Admission Rate | 5% |
Ithaca, New York | In-State | $29,500 Out-of-State | $29,500 | Admission Rate | 11% |
Baltimore, Maryland | In-State | $55,350 Out-of-State | $55,350 | Admission Rate | 11% |
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | In-State | $27,000 Out-of-State | $27,000 | Admission Rate | 32% |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts | In-State | $53,450 Out-of-State | $53,450 | Admission Rate | 7% |
New York, New York | In-State | $33,408 Out-of-State | $33,408 | Admission Rate | 16% |
Boston, Massasschusetts | In-State | $24,793 Out-of-State | $24,793 | Admission Rate | 18% |
Evanston, Illinois | In-State | $56,067 Out-of-State | $56,067 | Admission Rate | 9% |
Princeton, New Jersey | In-State | $51,870 Out-of-State | $51,870 | Admission Rate | 6% |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York | In-State | $54,000 Out-of-State | $54,000 | Admission Rate | 47% |
Houston, Texas | In-State | $48,791 Out-of-State | $48,791 | Admission Rate | 9% |
Stanford, California | In-State | $52,479 Out-of-State | $52,479 | Admission Rate | 4% |
Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey | In-State | $36,680 Out-of-State | $36,680 | Admission Rate | 40% |
Syracuse, New York | In-State | $38,880 Out-of-State | $38,880 | Admission Rate | 44% |
Medford, Massasschusetts | In-State | $52,724 Out-of-State | $52,724 | Admission Rate | 15% |
Notre Dame, Indiana | In-State | $54,908 Out-of-State | $54,908 | Admission Rate | 16% |
Rochester, New York | In-State | $51,705 Out-of-State | $51,705 | Admission Rate | 30% |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California | In-State | $46,272 Out-of-State | $46,272 | Admission Rate | 11% |
Tulsa, Oklahoma | In-State | $22,896 Out-of-State | $22,896 | Admission Rate | 36% |
Nashville, Tennessee | In-State | $48,624 Out-of-State | $48,624 | Admission Rate | 9% |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massasschusetts | In-State | $28,188 Out-of-State | $28,188 | Admission Rate | 49% |
New Haven, Connecticut | In-State | $43,300 Out-of-State | $43,300 | Admission Rate | 6% |
How We Rank Schools
Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Doctorate in Chemical Engineering ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 60 schools that qualify for our ranking, listed in alphabetical order. The programs in our list are based on the following criteria.
- Each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution.
- Must offer a doctorate degree program in the given subject.
- Must submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chemical Engineering Programs
Is a doctorate in chemical engineering worth it?
Depending on your career goals and interests, it can be. Scientists with a doctorate in chemical engineering perform research tackling the field’s most significant challenges and questions. These professionals may experience more benefits, such as feeling great pride in their accomplishments and exploring new career opportunities.
Applicants to doctorate in chemical engineering programs should not overlook the advantages of earning their degree online. Fully accredited online programs have the same academic rigor as on-campus degrees. Other benefits may include a lower cost of attendance and a flexible learning style.
What can I do with a doctorate in chemical engineering?
A doctorate in chemical engineering prepares graduates for many career paths, such as postsecondary teaching. Professionals in a tenure-track position teach classes, mentor students, and serve on academic committees. Other responsibilities include performing original research and publishing the results.
Career paths outside of academia include process engineering. These professionals make industrial processes more efficient by analyzing the relationship between equipment, chemical interactions, and system performance.
Doctorate in chemical engineering degree-seekers can explore these and other job options with the help of a career advisor. Advisors may recommend completing an internship or taking career interest surveys.
How long does it take to get a doctorate in chemical engineering?
Typical full-time students graduate in less than six years. A master’s degree in chemical engineering lets some learners skip introductory graduate coursework. Degree-seekers with only an engineering bachelor’s may need longer to graduate.
Students in online doctorate in chemical engineering programs must take classes such as molecular thermodynamics, applied mathematics, and chemical kinetics. Students then take a qualifying examination. Those who pass move on to their dissertation.
Doctorate in chemical engineering students instruct undergraduate classes. This experience prepares them for careers in academia. Degree-seekers graduate once they successfully defend their dissertation in front of a committee.
How much money can I make with a doctorate in chemical engineering?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that postsecondary engineering teachers earned a median salary of $104,940 in May 2021. This figure exceeds what many teachers in other disciplines made. Top-paying states for professionals included California, Illinois, and Rhode Island.
The average salary for process engineers exceeded $75,000 in June 2022, according to Payscale. The highest earners make more than $105,000. In-demand skills that may increase salary potential include technical analysis, engineering design, and risk management.
Online doctorate in chemical engineering students should consider how their specialty can affect salary potential. The BLS reports that the best paying employers for chemical engineers include engineering services firms and petroleum production companies.
What are the highest-paying jobs with a doctorate in chemical engineering?
The BLS reports that the highest-paying jobs for workers with a doctorate in chemical engineering include chemical engineering. Professionals in the engineering services sector earned a median salary of $152,430 in May 2021. Those specializing in coal product manufacturing made $126,780.
Other lucrative career opportunities can be found in research science. Payscale data shows that top earners in this profession made more than $101,000 per year as of July 2022. The latest salary data suggests that employers provide regular raises to mid-career and experienced professionals.
Degree-seekers and recent graduates make themselves more competitive for lucrative jobs by earning industry certifications. The National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering awards certifications to professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Feature Image: Hinterhaus Productions / DigitalVision / Getty Images
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