First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from North Carolina State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 22 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 86%, Chemical Engineering graduates from North Carolina State University have a much higher likelihood (+19%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 27% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Chemical Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
Relevance score: 100%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2012 from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONProcess EngineerHospira Jun 2012 - Jun 2014 Scientist On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc Aug 2020 - Dec 2022 R&D Scientist V On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc Dec 2022 - Apr 2023 Research Engineer Susteon Inc. Apr 2023 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)University of Virginia 2014 - 2020 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking into the careers of people who graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University, it’s clear that many have found work in industries where their education really shines. A large chunk of graduates holds roles like Process Engineer, Scientist, or Quality Manager, which directly relate to chemical engineering principles and practices. For instance, positions in companies like Reynolds American and Biogen heavily emphasize applying chemical engineering knowledge to product development, quality assurance, and process optimization. These jobs often require graduates to use their technical skills daily, demonstrating a strong connection to what they studied in college.
However, not all paths taken by graduates are strictly tied to chemical engineering. Some alumni have stepped into roles that have a looser connection to their degree. For example, positions in quality assurance or manufacturing management might use some engineering principles, but focus more on general operational practices. As a result, while many graduates successfully transitioned into relevant engineering roles, others have found positions that, while beneficial and interesting, do not fully utilize their specialized knowledge in chemical engineering. Overall, there’s a solid mix of roles that both align with their education and some that stray from it, offering a variety of career trajectories for those with a chemical engineering background.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemical Engineering graduates (this is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to North Carolina State University):
Graduates from North Carolina State University who pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering seem to have carved out some solid career paths, starting strong right after graduation. It’s common for many of them to jump into roles like process engineer or quality manager. For instance, those who graduated around 2010 often found jobs at well-known companies like Henkel, Duke Energy, and Reynolds American. They tended to stay in engineering or scientific roles at tech and manufacturing firms, which is pretty typical for chemical engineering graduates. Almost all these early roles feel relevant to their education, showing that they’re starting off on the right foot!
Fast forward five to ten years, and many of these graduates have climbed the ladder into managerial and senior engineering positions. A lot of them have transitioned into roles with more responsibility, like senior managers and directors, particularly in large companies. For example, someone who started as a process engineer could end up being a senior process engineer or even a director in a related field, like they did at Biogen or Reynolds. Others have branched out into specialized areas, such as quality assurance or research and development, at firms like Apple and Merck. Overall, it looks like these graduates are not just landing good jobs but are also growing their careers in ways that leverage their chemical engineering skills, which is pretty impressive!
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering is generally on the tougher side compared to many other majors, and North Carolina State University (NCSU) is known for having a pretty solid program. You’re going to tackle a lot of challenging subjects, like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and materials science, plus you’ll have plenty of complex problem sets and lab work. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but if you’re passionate about chemistry and math, and you can stay organized and keep up with the workload, you can definitely handle it. Just remember, it’s all about finding the right balance and not getting overwhelmed—lots of students have made it through, so you can too!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering.
Based on the job history of these Chemical Engineering graduates from North Carolina State University, it seems like they've generally spiraled up the pay scale pretty well over time. Those who graduated in 2010 have climbed the ladder at big companies like Reynolds American and have transitioned into senior and director roles, which usually come with some nice salaries. The 2014 graduates also have made their way to managerial positions, especially at companies like Biogen, indicating they've been compensated decently. Even the more recent grads, like those from 2022 and 2023, have started in solid engineering roles at recognized firms, which bodes well for their earning potential as they gain experience. All in all, it looks like they're set up to make pretty decent money!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering (this is across all Chemical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to North Carolina State University). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemical Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: