Chemical Engineering


A group of students being shown a piece of equipment

A student with protective gear working in a laboratory

Overview

KU is internationally known for training students to apply the chemical engineering degree to create innovative solutions related to sustainability, renewable energy, data science, and biotechnology. Emphasizing hands-on experiences, research, and industry collaboration, KU provides students with unrivaled educational opportunities.

CPE@KU
A student looking at a computer screen in the lab

Assistance

KU chemical engineering petroleum students and faculty have created startup companies focused on mitigating climate change, improving drug development, feeding a growing planet, and harnessing the power of hydrogen.

More Information About our Department

MAJOR OFFERED:

  • CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
    • Biomedical Engineering Minor

CONCENTRATIONS:

  • BIOMEDICAL
  • DATA SCIENCE
  • ENVIRONMENTAL
  • MATERIAL SCIENCE
  • PRE-MEDICAL
  • PETROLEUM

KU has nationally recognized freshman and senior laboratories that provide students with hands-on training at pilot scale. Students are prepared for industry careers by learning about leadership, teamwork, and communication as well as the technical skills needed to operate and control industrial equipment.

Nearly half of the department’s undergraduate students participate in research and many use research hours to fulfill elective credit as part of the degree. KU students consistently receive national and international recognition and have been awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarships, graduate fellowships, and prizes for innovative technology commercialization strategies.

Chemical engineering students are passionate leaders in organizations where they can design, build, and test engineered products while networking with industry professionals. Chemical engineers work in multidisciplinary teams to build cars, design sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life, explore biomaterials, and even launch cube satellites into orbit.

A student performing an experiment

Who Hires KU Engineers

  • Black & Veatch
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Burns & McDonnell
  • Catalent Pharma Solutions
  • Chemours
  • Chevron Phillips Chemical
  • Colgate-Palmolive
  • Deloitte
  • Dow
  • Ecolab
  • Epic
  • ExxonMobil
  • Frito-Lay/PepsiCo
  • HollyFrontier
  • Honeywell
  • Intel
  • Jacobs Engineering
  • Koch Industries
  • Lubrizol
  • Nestle Purina
  • Pfizer
  • Schlumberger
  • U.S. Environmental Protection
  • Agency
  • Valvoline
  • Verista
  • Advanced materials
  • Biotechnology
  • Business, finance, and investments
  • Consulting
  • Electronics
  • Energy and fuels
  • Environmental and sustainability
  • Food packaging and processing
  • Government
  • Health care products
  • Hospitals and medical offices
  • Law firms
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Specialty chemicals

Bachelor's degree candidates national average* starting salary range:

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: $71,500 - $77,000

*Salaries from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)