2023 Best Online Degrees in Chemical Engineering
As our society looks for renewable resources and sustainable processes, the field of chemical engineering becomes increasingly important. Knowledgeable, experienced engineers are needed in all corners of the world, and pursuing an online Bachelor’s of Chemical Engineering can set you on the path for success.
If you are interested in all types of engineering and don't know which type to pursue, visit our engineering degree hub for more program options. Planning for the future? We have information on online master’s programs, too.
View our methodology for more details about our list or learn more about OnlineU.
List Of Accredited Online Chemical Engineering Schools
| School | Online Enrollment | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| University of North Dakota | 1,851 1,851 | $15,895 $15,895 |
University of North Dakota
- Annual Tuition: $15,895
- Locations: Grand Forks (ND)
- Accreditation: HLC
The University of North Dakota (UND) is a large, public institution. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering requiring 120 credit hours. This online program can be completed in four to five years with a full-time schedule. Core classes in this major include Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Plant Design, and Introduction to Transport Phenomena. There is also a capstone class requirement. UND’s program focuses on the fundamentals of the physical sciences, math and chemical engineering, which can lead to careers such as Environmental Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, and Product Development Engineer.
At UND, students use Blackboard to access their online coursework, which can be done online or in-person. Online students have access to the Math Active Learning Lab, Math Learning Center, and other university resources.
Overview of Online Chemical Engineering Degrees
Chemical engineering education combines topics in chemistry, biology, math, and physics with courses on engineering methods and practices. Bachelor's students learn about fundamental chemical processes and their application in manufacturing settings. Some students later pursue online master's degrees that help them specialize in specific areas of chemical engineering.
Bachelor's students learn about fundamental chemical processes and their application in manufacturing settings.
A bachelor's degree program in chemical engineering consists of 120-133 credit hours. This may take anywhere from four to six years to finish depending on full- or part-time enrollment. Many programs require students to work for an employer as part of an internship or externship program.
Interested in learning about similar degrees? Explore online bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering, or review our list of the most affordable bachelor's degrees in engineering.
Online Bachelor's Degrees in Chemical Engineering
An online chemical engineering bachelor's degree will usually have asynchronous courses. This means that students log into a learning management system to complete coursework. They can watch lectures, have written discussions with classmates, and read assignments online at their convenience.
Chemical engineering requires a certain amount of laboratory work. Some assignments may be possible with at-home kits that a school mails or asks a student to buy. However, some online programs ask students to attend campus sessions once or twice a year for intensive chemistry lab work.
Prospective students need to meet the following admission requirements to apply for an online bachelor's in chemical engineering program:
- A high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts for transfer students
- SAT or ACT scores that meet program requirements
- A personal essay that describes a student's interest in chemical engineering
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor
Chemical Engineering Courses
Chemical engineering students take core classes in chemistry, advanced mathematics, physics, and engineering design principles. Bachelor's degrees usually have generalist curricula, so the online courses we list below are typical for most programs. But you may find a program with a concentration such as sustainable design, which focuses on environmentally friendly engineering.
Fluid Mechanics
Students take this class to learn how liquids and gases move and behave. To this end, they'll usually study hydrostatics, exact and approximate solutions, energy balancing, and how to use differential equations to describe fluids.
Organic Chemistry
This course describes the properties and structure of organic materials, or those containing carbon. Faculty typically lecture on molecule reactivity, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Most sections contain some lab work.
Reactor Design in Chemical Engineering
Professors for this class introduce the basics of chemical reactions before describing mechanisms to make them happen. Students might get to design different reactors, such as catalytic chemical or tubular reactors.
Transport Processes
This class draws from chemistry and physics to describe how mass, heat, and momentum are transported or exchanged. Enrollees use differential equations to calculate radiative heat transfer, conduction and diffusion, and convective transport.
Careers in Chemical Engineering
Given their solid grounding in science and technology, chemical engineers can work in a variety of growing industries. Individuals with an online chemical engineering bachelor's degree are typically prepared for most entry-level positions in the field. They may also be able to land jobs in related sectors, such as biotechnology, biochemical engineering, sustainable energy development, or environmental engineering.
It's important to note that graduates may need a Professional Engineering license to advance their careers. This credential can open up careers in government, education, and consultancy, and it can also help graduates access higher-level roles.
Below is a list of career opportunities for graduates of online chemical engineering programs. Salary and job outlook data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Chemical Engineers
Chemical engineers develop safe and effective manufacturing process designs, including protocols on how to deal with dangerous materials. As part of their day-to-day activities, they also monitor equipment, conduct tests, and diagnose potential problems that may emerge in large-scale manufacturing settings.
Agricultural and Food Scientists
Agriculture and food scientists deal with various aspects of crop production. Their work ranges from examining the chemical composition of soils and engineering seeds to determining process controls for packaging and delivering food products. Some professionals also conduct research and present their findings to policymakers and the public.
Materials Engineers
Material engineers use material science to study the characteristics of substances — such as plastics, ceramics, and metals — hoping to discover how they act in different kinds of production environments. They help find the conditions under which certain materials can fail, and they develop safety ratings for a range of products.
Petroleum Engineers
Petroleum engineers are typically found working in refineries or offshore drilling rigs, where they are responsible for extracting oil and gas deposits. A large portion of their job involves process engineering, where they design safety procedures and ensure that workers follow standard operating procedures. In some cases, petroleum engineers analyze deposits to explore new ways of extracting materials.
A graduate degree might help you qualify for more advanced roles. Read through our lists of the best online master's degrees in chemical engineering and the most affordable online master's degrees in chemical engineering
What Else Should You Consider?
Applying to college can feel overwhelming, with dozens of variables to research for each school you're considering. Therefore, it helps to understand what you want from your education. The questions below aren't exhaustive, but they can be a starting point as you figure out what you want from a degree.
Is This School Accredited?
It's important to only apply to institutionally accredited online colleges. This ensures that the school is regularly reviewed by an independent accreditor that checks the quality of its education and services. Accredited colleges are respected in the job market. You might not qualify for certain forms of financial aid if you don't attend an accredited institution, and this could leave you with extra student loan debt.
The Department of Education has a searchable Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to help prospective students.
Is This Degree Program Accredited?
Bachelor's degrees in engineering may receive the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET) approval. This accrediting body has historically accredited very few chemical engineering degrees that are fully online. Attending an ABET-accredited program may be important to your career as a chemical engineer. It's important to research each school's status using ABET's database of accredited programs.
What Other Features Do I wWant in a College?
Which features are most important to you, and which can you live without? Maybe you want a school with high graduation rates and a diverse student makeup. Or you could prioritize a disability services office that understands your needs as a learner. Use this question as an opportunity to brainstorm and assign weights to different factors.
Do I Want To Enroll in an Online Degree?
The program accreditation question may determine your answer to this question. If you want an ABET-accredited program and can't find one online, then you'll need to attend college in person.
But you may prefer the convenience and flexibility of distance learning if you can find an accredited online program. Keep in mind that you'll probably need to set aside some time throughout the year to travel to your school's campus to do lab work.
Our Guide to Starting Your Online Education might help you at the beginning of an online program.
FAQs About Chemical Engineering Degrees
Is It Possible to Get a Chemical Engineering Degree Online?
Students can complete the majority of a chemical engineering degree online. This typically means they take all of their required general education and major courses remotely. They must then visit campus for one or two weeks to finish the laboratory portions of their program, usually during the summer.
How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Chemical Engineer?
It takes roughly 4-5 years of full-time study to become a chemical engineer. Students spend most of this time completing their bachelor's degree before gaining practical experience through an internship or similar program. Some employers require graduates to have practical experience, even for entry-level positions.
Can You Become a Chemical Engineer With a Chemistry Degree?
It might be possible to become a chemical engineer with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but it's unlikely. Most engineering degrees contain specialized coursework in engineering processes and mechanical design that a straight science degree won't cover. Chemical engineering employers often prefer applicants who know how to design workflows and build tools that make practical use of chemical compounds.
What Can You Do with a Chemical Engineering Degree?
You can become a chemical engineer with a chemical engineering degree. But you might also pursue related types of engineering, such as materials engineering, industrial engineering, or environmental engineering. You may be able to do chemical technician work for the government, academia, or the private sector, though many of these jobs call for an associate degree at the entry level.
Overview of Online Chemical Engineering Degrees
Chemical engineering education combines topics in chemistry, biology, math, and physics with courses on engineering methods and practices. Bachelor's students learn about fundamental chemical processes and their application in manufacturing settings. Some students later pursue online master's degrees that help them specialize in specific areas of chemical engineering.
Bachelor's students learn about fundamental chemical processes and their application in manufacturing settings.
A bachelor's degree program in chemical engineering consists of 120-133 credit hours. This may take anywhere from four to six years to finish depending on full- or part-time enrollment. Many programs require students to work for an employer as part of an internship or externship program.
Interested in learning about similar degrees? Explore online bachelor's degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and industrial engineering, or review our list of the most affordable bachelor's degrees in engineering.
Online Bachelor's Degrees in Chemical Engineering
An online chemical engineering bachelor's degree will usually have asynchronous courses. This means that students log into a learning management system to complete coursework. They can watch lectures, have written discussions with classmates, and read assignments online at their convenience.
Chemical engineering requires a certain amount of laboratory work. Some assignments may be possible with at-home kits that a school mails or asks a student to buy. However, some online programs ask students to attend campus sessions once or twice a year for intensive chemistry lab work.
Prospective students need to meet the following admission requirements to apply for an online bachelor's in chemical engineering program:
- A high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum 2.0 GPA
- College transcripts for transfer students
- SAT or ACT scores that meet program requirements
- A personal essay that describes a student's interest in chemical engineering
- A letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor
Chemical Engineering Courses
Chemical engineering students take core classes in chemistry, advanced mathematics, physics, and engineering design principles. Bachelor's degrees usually have generalist curricula, so the online courses we list below are typical for most programs. But you may find a program with a concentration such as sustainable design, which focuses on environmentally friendly engineering.
Fluid Mechanics
Students take this class to learn how liquids and gases move and behave. To this end, they'll usually study hydrostatics, exact and approximate solutions, energy balancing, and how to use differential equations to describe fluids.
Organic Chemistry
This course describes the properties and structure of organic materials, or those containing carbon. Faculty typically lecture on molecule reactivity, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Most sections contain some lab work.
Reactor Design in Chemical Engineering
Professors for this class introduce the basics of chemical reactions before describing mechanisms to make them happen. Students might get to design different reactors, such as catalytic chemical or tubular reactors.
Transport Processes
This class draws from chemistry and physics to describe how mass, heat, and momentum are transported or exchanged. Enrollees use differential equations to calculate radiative heat transfer, conduction and diffusion, and convective transport.
Careers in Chemical Engineering
Given their solid grounding in science and technology, chemical engineers can work in a variety of growing industries. Individuals with an online chemical engineering bachelor's degree are typically prepared for most entry-level positions in the field. They may also be able to land jobs in related sectors, such as biotechnology, biochemical engineering, sustainable energy development, or environmental engineering.
It's important to note that graduates may need a Professional Engineering license to advance their careers. This credential can open up careers in government, education, and consultancy, and it can also help graduates access higher-level roles.
Below is a list of career opportunities for graduates of online chemical engineering programs. Salary and job outlook data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Chemical Engineers
Chemical engineers develop safe and effective manufacturing process designs, including protocols on how to deal with dangerous materials. As part of their day-to-day activities, they also monitor equipment, conduct tests, and diagnose potential problems that may emerge in large-scale manufacturing settings.
Agricultural and Food Scientists
Agriculture and food scientists deal with various aspects of crop production. Their work ranges from examining the chemical composition of soils and engineering seeds to determining process controls for packaging and delivering food products. Some professionals also conduct research and present their findings to policymakers and the public.
Materials Engineers
Material engineers use material science to study the characteristics of substances — such as plastics, ceramics, and metals — hoping to discover how they act in different kinds of production environments. They help find the conditions under which certain materials can fail, and they develop safety ratings for a range of products.
Petroleum Engineers
Petroleum engineers are typically found working in refineries or offshore drilling rigs, where they are responsible for extracting oil and gas deposits. A large portion of their job involves process engineering, where they design safety procedures and ensure that workers follow standard operating procedures. In some cases, petroleum engineers analyze deposits to explore new ways of extracting materials.
A graduate degree might help you qualify for more advanced roles. Read through our lists of the best online master's degrees in chemical engineering and the most affordable online master's degrees in chemical engineering
What Else Should You Consider?
Applying to college can feel overwhelming, with dozens of variables to research for each school you're considering. Therefore, it helps to understand what you want from your education. The questions below aren't exhaustive, but they can be a starting point as you figure out what you want from a degree.
Is This School Accredited?
It's important to only apply to institutionally accredited online colleges. This ensures that the school is regularly reviewed by an independent accreditor that checks the quality of its education and services. Accredited colleges are respected in the job market. You might not qualify for certain forms of financial aid if you don't attend an accredited institution, and this could leave you with extra student loan debt.
The Department of Education has a searchable Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to help prospective students.
Is This Degree Program Accredited?
Bachelor's degrees in engineering may receive the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology's (ABET) approval. This accrediting body has historically accredited very few chemical engineering degrees that are fully online. Attending an ABET-accredited program may be important to your career as a chemical engineer. It's important to research each school's status using ABET's database of accredited programs.
What Other Features Do I wWant in a College?
Which features are most important to you, and which can you live without? Maybe you want a school with high graduation rates and a diverse student makeup. Or you could prioritize a disability services office that understands your needs as a learner. Use this question as an opportunity to brainstorm and assign weights to different factors.
Do I Want To Enroll in an Online Degree?
The program accreditation question may determine your answer to this question. If you want an ABET-accredited program and can't find one online, then you'll need to attend college in person.
But you may prefer the convenience and flexibility of distance learning if you can find an accredited online program. Keep in mind that you'll probably need to set aside some time throughout the year to travel to your school's campus to do lab work.
Our Guide to Starting Your Online Education might help you at the beginning of an online program.
FAQs About Chemical Engineering Degrees
Is It Possible to Get a Chemical Engineering Degree Online?
Students can complete the majority of a chemical engineering degree online. This typically means they take all of their required general education and major courses remotely. They must then visit campus for one or two weeks to finish the laboratory portions of their program, usually during the summer.
How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Chemical Engineer?
It takes roughly 4-5 years of full-time study to become a chemical engineer. Students spend most of this time completing their bachelor's degree before gaining practical experience through an internship or similar program. Some employers require graduates to have practical experience, even for entry-level positions.
Can You Become a Chemical Engineer With a Chemistry Degree?
It might be possible to become a chemical engineer with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but it's unlikely. Most engineering degrees contain specialized coursework in engineering processes and mechanical design that a straight science degree won't cover. Chemical engineering employers often prefer applicants who know how to design workflows and build tools that make practical use of chemical compounds.
What Can You Do with a Chemical Engineering Degree?
You can become a chemical engineer with a chemical engineering degree. But you might also pursue related types of engineering, such as materials engineering, industrial engineering, or environmental engineering. You may be able to do chemical technician work for the government, academia, or the private sector, though many of these jobs call for an associate degree at the entry level.
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