What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University?

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:

Average score: 86%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

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:

View a random Chemical Engineering graduate from North Carolina State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated 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 GRADUATION
Process Engineer
Hospira
Jun 2012 - Jun 2014
As a Process Engineer at Hospira, this position requires applied chemical engineering principles and skills directly related to the Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering.

Scientist
On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc
Aug 2020 - Dec 2022
The role of Scientist at On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc directly utilizes chemical engineering knowledge in pharmaceutical development, aligning closely with the individuals educational background.

R&D Scientist V
On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc
Dec 2022 - Apr 2023
As an R&D Scientist V at On Demand Pharmaceuticals Inc, this job demands advanced expertise in chemical engineering and processes, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree.

Research Engineer
Susteon Inc.
Apr 2023 - Present
The position of Research Engineer at Susteon Inc requires the application of chemical engineering principles, which aligns perfectly with the skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
University of Virginia
2014 - 2020
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University?

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):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemical Engineering graduates from North Carolina State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

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!

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from North Carolina State University?

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!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering.

Do Chemical Engineering graduates from North Carolina State University tend to make good money?

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!

What buzzwords do Chemical Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

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:

What are the best colleges for Chemical Engineering?

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:

College Score Count
Northeastern University 91 11
Rochester Institute of Technology 90 10
Clarkson University 90 10
University of Cincinnati 89 16
Oklahoma State University 88 10
Purdue University 87 20
University of Arkansas 87 13
North Carolina State University 86 22
Arizona State University 85 13
University of Wisconsin-Madison 85 13
University of Delaware 85 13
University at Buffalo 83 10
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 83 13
University of California, Berkeley 82 12
Villanova University 82 10
Montana State University-Bozeman 82 13
Louisiana State University 81 15
The Ohio State University 80 36
Texas A&M University 79 37
Brigham Young University 79 14
University of Arizona 79 15
University of Oklahoma 79 13
University of Massachusetts Lowell 79 12
Michigan Technological University 78 22
Auburn University 76 20
Iowa State University 75 18
Georgia Institute of Technology 74 11
University of California, Davis 73 20
University of Houston 73 17
University of Pittsburgh 73 21
University of Virginia 73 12
Michigan State University 72 24
Oregon State University 72 20
University of Dayton 72 12
Penn State University 71 21
The University of Texas at Austin 71 24
University of Washington 71 10
University of Iowa 71 10
University of Connecticut 70 11
The University of Alabama 69 10
New Jersey Institute of Technology 69 12
Colorado School of Mines 69 21
University of Florida 68 20
Virginia Tech 68 16
Mississippi State University 68 15
University of Notre Dame 68 10
University of Kentucky 67 11
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 67 16
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 66 11
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 65 16
University of Michigan 62 21
The University of Kansas 62 11
Missouri University of Science and Technology 60 14
University of South Florida 58 14
University of California, San Diego 56 12