2026 Best Value Chemical Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Chemical Engineering graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 214 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Chemical Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Lehigh University this year in the United States. Located in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Lehigh University Chemical Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $105,584 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 26%. Get the full Lehigh University report
Out of the 214 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Auburn University landed the #2 spot. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Graduates carry a median of $23,104 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,337 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,104 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants. Read the full report on Auburn University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Colorado State University Fort Collins Chemical Engineering students take on a median of $21,240 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,543 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 88% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
Out of the 214 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #4 spot. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their Chemical Engineering program here. Columbia University In The City Of New York alumni report median earnings of $102,491 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At Tyler, which ranked #5 this year. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Tyler
Clemson University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Clemson University report
Lamar University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Lamar University profile
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. More on Rochester Institute Of Technology
Hampton University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full Hampton University report
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus profile
Ohio University Zanesville Campus came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. More on Ohio University Zanesville Campus
Elon University
Elon University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Elon University report
Rowan University
Rowan University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Rowan University
Kettering University placed #14 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. More on Kettering University
University Of California Santa Barbara placed #15 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of South Carolina Columbia offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of St Thomas Texas offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read more about University Of St Thomas Texas
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Washington State University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on Washington State University
Iowa State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. See the full Iowa State University profile
Ohio University Lancaster Campus placed #21 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ohio University Lancaster Campus
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
El Centro College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about El Centro College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #24 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full The University Of Texas At San Antonio profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Chemical Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Geneva College
Geneva College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Geneva College profile
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full North Carolina A And T State University report
Cascadia Community College placed #28 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. See the full Cascadia Community College profile
Cornell University placed #29 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. More on Cornell University
Florida State University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Florida State University profile
College Of The Mainland ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. See the full College Of The Mainland profile
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #32 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. More on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. See the full Rutgers University New Brunswick profile
University Of Dayton landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Dayton
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College profile
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. More on University Of South Florida Main Campus
Blinn College
Blinn College landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Blinn College
Benedictine College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Benedictine College profile
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Brigham Young University Provo
Syracuse University offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Syracuse University
Rice University
Rice University placed #42 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on Rice University
University Of Notre Dame placed #43 among the best-value Chemical Engineering schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Notre Dame report
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. More on Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. More on University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Maryland Baltimore County ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value Chemical Engineering schools. See the full University Of Maryland Baltimore County profile
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Holmes Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Holmes Community College report
Stevens Institute Of Technology landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
Related Chemical Engineering Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Chemical Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 214 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).