Cheapest Chemical Engineering Colleges in Texas

Rice University delivers the highest earnings potential at $83,915 for Chemical Engineering graduates while maintaining a remarkably low net cost of $12,640, defying typical private school pricing. The state's affordability spectrum spans from Texas A&M Kingsville's $10,204 net cost to Texas A&M College Station's $20,924, creating a $10,720 gap among public institutions. Texas chemical engineers find opportunities throughout the state's petroleum refining corridor, which processes over 5 million barrels daily. Graduation rates vary dramatically, from Lamar University's 37.2% to Rice's strong 95.7%, suggesting program rigor directly impacts completion success.

Programs

$10,204 – $20,924

Net Price Range

$70,069

Avg. Program Earnings

62.4%

Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Chemical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Texas A & M University-Kingsville Kingsville, Texas	$10,204	$9,892	45.6%	96.6%
2	The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas	$11,234	$8,991	51.2%	86.9%
3	Lamar University Beaumont, Texas	$11,429	$8,690	37.2%	83.7%
4	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
5	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
6	The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, Texas	$13,931	$9,920	46.8%	93.9%
7	Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, Texas	$14,041	$11,299	43.2%	76.1%
8	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
9	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$20,071	$11,852	67.5%	67.3%
10	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, Texas	$20,924	$13,099	83.8%	62.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains Rice University's low net cost despite being private?

Rice University charges $58,128 in tuition but provides substantial financial aid that reduces the average net cost to just $12,640. This makes Rice more affordable than Texas A&M College Station at $20,924, despite being a private institution with an 8.68% acceptance rate.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Texas?

Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, with Rice at 95.7% and Texas A&M College Station at 83.8%. However, Lamar University presents an outlier with a 37.2% graduation rate despite producing graduates earning $71,015 annually.

Does attending a more expensive program guarantee higher earnings?

Not necessarily. Prairie View A&M graduates earn $70,009 with a net cost of $14,041, while University of Houston graduates earn $55,512 despite a similar net cost of $13,853. Rice leads earnings at $83,915, justifying its investment.

Where do Texas Chemical Engineering graduates find the best debt-to-income ratios?

Rice University offers the strongest ratio with $13,178 average debt against $83,915 earnings. Texas A&M College Station provides solid value with $18,017 debt and $80,669 earnings, while Prairie View A&M shows the weakest ratio at $29,606 debt for $70,009 earnings.

More Chemical Engineering Rankings

Best Value Chemical Engineering in Texas Chemical Engineering Under $20,000 in Texas

All Chemical Engineering Programs Best Colleges in Texas Best Chemical Engineering in Texas

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