Chemical Engineering · Iowa

Chemical Engineering colleges in Iowa

CampusPin lists 36 U.S. colleges in Iowa 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 Iowa that offer Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering programs in Iowa: by the numbers

A quick comparison of the 36 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.

Schools listed

36

Public / private

18 / 18

Universities / 2-year

21 / 15

Cities represented

29

In-state tuition range

$2,600–$51,040

Median in-state tuition

$12,982

Lowest published in-state tuition

Southeastern Community College

$2,600

Most selective

St Luke's College

44% acceptance

Largest by enrollment

Iowa State University

29,878 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 Iowa

Find more Chemical Engineering schools

Use CampusPin's filter-first search to narrow 36+ Chemical Engineering programs in Iowa by tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting.

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