Best Value Chemical Engineering Colleges in California

Stanford's chemical engineering graduates command the highest starting salaries at $91,744, yet the university's net cost of $12,136 makes it surprisingly affordable for many students. California's 14 chemical engineering programs span costs from $8,931 at Cal State Long Beach to $31,927 at USC, creating stark value differences across the state. Public UC schools dominate the middle tier with strong earnings potential, while California's aerospace giants like SpaceX and established petrochemical industry along the coast drive consistent demand for chemical engineers throughout the region.

Programs

$8,931 – $31,927

Net Price Range

$62,832

Avg. Program Earnings

81.8%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Chemical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Stanford University Stanford, California	$12,136	$91,744	$62,484	92.8%	3.7%
2	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$58,221	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
3	California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, California	$11,580	$68,305	$7,439	66.7%	55.4%
4	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$80,718	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
5	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013	$63,005	$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
6	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750	$52,464	$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
7	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825	$59,485	$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
8	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$62,409	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
9	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$52,107	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
10	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741	$55,512	$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
11	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$49,464	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
12	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927	$60,546	$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
13	California Baptist University Riverside, California	$27,384		$39,720	59.5%	79.9%
14	California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California	$18,902		$63,255	93.2%	2.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Stanford such good value despite being private?

Stanford's generous financial aid brings the average net cost down to just $12,136 for most students. Graduates earn $91,744 starting salaries, creating an strong return on investment that rivals public options.

How do UC schools compare for chemical engineering value?

UC Berkeley leads UC earnings at $80,718 with a $14,979 net cost, while UC San Diego offers the lowest UC net price at $11,750 but modest $52,464 starting salaries. Most UC programs graduate 85-93% of students within six years.

Is Cal State Long Beach worth considering over UC schools?

Cal State Long Beach offers the state's lowest net cost at $8,931 with solid $58,221 graduate earnings. The 70% graduation rate lags UC schools, but the minimal debt burden of $16,248 appeals to cost-conscious students.

Where do California chemical engineering graduates typically work?

Silicon Valley tech companies, aerospace firms like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman, and biotech companies throughout California hire heavily from state programs. The state's massive economy and fifth-largest global ranking create abundant opportunities across multiple industries.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.