Look at the screen of your iPhone, the way it lights up when you put your thumb against it. How does that work?
Or take a look at the label on your orange juice from the grocery store. Was it made from oranges that were fertilized? Or tell me this: the last time you had a headache, did you ever think about what exactly is going on when you swallow an ibuprofen?
I bet you rarely think about why and how these seemingly simple things happen. But guess what? Most likely, all of these products and processes, and countless other things throughout our daily lives, started in a research lab with a chemical engineer.
Chemical engineering combines nearly all of the natural and experimental sciences (chemistry, physics, biology, biochemistry, and mathematics) to design and develop processes that transform the most basic materials into usable products (like iPhones and food and medicine!).
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This is no small feat, though. Chemical engineers are among the most gifted and talented members of society. Because they're dealing with highly specialized sciences, most aspiring chemical engineers go through lots of training and tough competition to develop these life-changing products.
But they also are rewarded quite well in the job force. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2015, the median annual wage for chemical engineers was $97,360. So if you're a math whiz, or a chemistry geek, or just someone who is fascinated with how things work, chemical engineering might just be the degree for you.
Related: 100 Best Colleges and Universities
To help you out, we've compiled a list of the top 25 chemical engineering schools across the United States, from California to Delaware. In each ranking, you'll see the annual tuition, as well as our College Choice Score, which is computed based on each school's reputation, the department's reputation, and the school's return on investment.
Essentially, we've distilled a list of schools that offer the best cost, reputation, and effectiveness in the job market. If you're looking for a school in which to study chemical engineering, you really can't go wrong with any of the ones on our list. Ready to jump in?
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
