Cheapest Chemical Engineering Colleges in Pennsylvania

Chemical engineering students in Pennsylvania face a dramatic cost spectrum, from University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown at $18,952 annually to Villanova at $44,876. This $25,924 gap reflects the state's mix of accessible public options and elite private institutions. Pennsylvania's chemical industry ties run deep, with major pharmaceutical companies and petrochemical facilities creating steady demand for graduates. The University of Pittsburgh system offers particularly strong value, with the main Pittsburgh campus delivering an 84.30% graduation rate at $30,074 net cost. Most programs here prepare students for careers at companies like Johnson & Johnson, PPG Industries, and Air Products, which maintain significant operations across the commonwealth.

Programs

$18,952 – $44,876

Net Price Range

$71,371

Avg. Program Earnings

80.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Chemical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Johnstown, Pennsylvania	$18,952	$14,646	53.4%	97.4%
2	Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania	$21,043	$33,610	61.5%	79.1%
3	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$30,074	$21,524	84.3%	49.1%
4	Widener University Chester, Pennsylvania	$30,470	$53,638	63.5%	87.7%
5	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$31,229	$66,104	96.8%	6.5%
6	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$31,671	$63,829	92.5%	11.3%
7	Lafayette College Easton, Pennsylvania	$32,496	$62,574	88.1%	33.6%
8	Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	$33,549	$62,180	89.2%	37.0%
9	Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$38,428	$60,663	77.1%	79.6%
10	Bucknell University Lewisburg, Pennsylvania	$40,429	$64,772	86.2%	32.6%
11	Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania	$44,876	$64,701	92.4%	23.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown the cheapest option for chemical engineering?

UPitt-Johnstown charges just $18,952 net annually, nearly $2,100 less than the next cheapest program. The campus accepts 97.41% of applicants, making it highly accessible though graduation rates sit at 53.40%.

How do graduation rates vary between the most and least expensive programs?

Top-priced programs show dramatically higher completion rates, with University of Pennsylvania achieving 96.80% graduation compared to UPitt-Johnstown's 53.40%. Carnegie Mellon and Villanova both exceed 92% graduation rates despite their $31,000+ annual costs.

Is earning potential consistent across Pennsylvania chemical engineering programs?

Graduate salaries range from $67,660 to $76,460, with Bucknell leading at $76,460 despite being less expensive than Villanova. Carnegie Mellon and University of Pennsylvania graduates both command over $74,000 starting salaries.

Does student debt burden correlate with program cost in Pennsylvania?

Not always - Lafayette College graduates carry just $17,000 in debt despite the program costing $32,496 annually. University of Pennsylvania students graduate with $20,500 debt even at $31,229 net cost, showing strong financial aid.

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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.