Chemical Engineering · Illinois

Chemical Engineering colleges in Illinois

CampusPin lists 98 U.S. colleges in Illinois that offer Chemical Engineering programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.

Chemical Engineering applies chemistry, physics, and math to design large-scale processes that turn raw materials into fuels, medicines, and materials, for students who like lab science and design.

Schools in Illinois that offer Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering programs in Illinois: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 50 schools (of 98 total) listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

98

Public / private

30 / 20

Universities / 2-year

22 / 28

Cities represented

35

In-state tuition range

$3,180–$51,763

Median in-state tuition

$5,300

Lowest published in-state tuition

Elgin Community College

$3,180

Most selective

Methodist College

31% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

DeVry University-Illinois

29,175 students

Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.

What you'll study in a Chemical Engineering program

  • Material and energy balances on chemical processes
  • Chemical engineering thermodynamics and phase equilibria
  • Fluid mechanics and heat and mass transfer (transport phenomena)
  • Chemical reaction engineering and reactor design
  • Separation processes (distillation, absorption, extraction, membranes)
  • Process dynamics, control, and instrumentation
  • Process and plant design with safety and economic analysis
  • Unit-operations and process laboratory work, plus organic and physical chemistry

Where a Chemical Engineering degree can lead

  • Chemical engineers
  • Process Engineer
  • Production / Manufacturing Engineer
  • Process Control Engineer
  • Environmental / Safety Engineer
  • Research and Development Engineer

Typical pay: $70,000–$100,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 chemical engineers median $121,860)

A Chemical Engineering major is typically an ABET-accredited bachelor of science that teaches students to design, operate, and optimize the processes that convert raw materials into useful products, from petrochemicals and plastics to pharmaceuticals, foods, and semiconductors. The core sequence builds on calculus, differential equations, and chemistry, then layers on the discipline's defining courses: material and energy balances, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, separation processes, and process control.

Most programs require organic and physical chemistry, several unit-operations and process-design labs, and a senior capstone in which teams design a full chemical plant or process and evaluate it on safety, economics, and environmental impact. Graduates work in process and production engineering, manufacturing, energy, biotechnology, materials, and environmental compliance, and many pursue the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam as a step toward a Professional Engineer (PE) license.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of chemical engineers to grow 2.6% from 2024 to 2034 and reports a 2024 median wage of $121,860 for the occupation.

Chemical Engineering in other states

Other majors in Illinois

Find more Chemical Engineering schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 98+ Chemical Engineering programs in Illinois by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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