What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from The University of Texas at Austin 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 24 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 71%, Chemical Engineering graduates from The University of Texas at Austin have a slightly higher likelihood (+4%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 71%
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, 41% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Chemical Engineering graduate.

See the details:

View a random Chemical Engineering graduate from The University of Texas at Austin and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2023 from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Process Engineering Intern
Kiewit
Jun 2023 - Aug 2023
The Process Engineering Intern role at Kiewit directly utilizes the technical knowledge and skills acquired through a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, as it involves working on engineering processes relevant to the field.

Process Engineer 1
Kiewit
Jan 2024 - Present
As a Process Engineer 1 at Kiewit, the job requires the application of core chemical engineering principles and knowledge on a daily basis, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


People who graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin have ventured into a variety of job roles, but the positions they've landed often show a mixed relationship with their field of study. A significant number of graduates have worked as Process Engineers, and roles like this are directly tied to their chemical engineering background, requiring a deep understanding of chemical processes and principles. Many have also taken on project management positions—some relevant due to their need for engineering oversight—while others have drifted into roles in areas such as finance or business management, which don’t necessitate a strong chemical engineering foundation. For instance, jobs like the Vice President role at ABN AMRO Bank and business consultant positions don’t really tap into the engineering skills they learned during their studies.

Overall, while there are plenty of roles that leverage their engineering expertise, a good number of graduates have found themselves in jobs that only slightly relate, or sometimes not at all, to chemical engineering. Positions like Field Engineer or Air Quality Engineer have strong ties to their academic training, showcasing valid applications of their degree. However, many others have taken paths that are broader or entirely outside the core principles of chemical engineering, reflecting how versatile the degree can be but also sometimes leading to less relevant job fit. In the end, the picture is varied, with many graduates finding ways to apply their chemical engineering knowledge effectively while others are leveraging their analytical skills in completely different fields.

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 The University of Texas at Austin):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemical Engineering graduates from The University of Texas at Austin have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When you check out the career paths of graduates from the Chemical Engineering program at The University of Texas at Austin, it's clear that the majority are getting their foot in the door with relevant roles soon after graduation. For many, their first jobs are as engineers—like process engineers or field engineers—working either in large corporations like ExxonMobil or in specialty positions like environmental engineering. These roles are pretty aligned with their degree, giving them a solid start in the field. Over time, many of these graduates branch out into more senior roles, such as project managers or consultants, and some even move into leadership positions within major companies, reflecting upward mobility in their careers.

Fast forward five or ten years, and you'll see a lot of these engineers climbing the ranks. Many have stayed within the engineering or technical consulting sphere, often taking on responsibilities that blend engineering expertise with business strategy. For instance, individuals have transitioned into project management or senior consultant roles, indicating that their technical background in chemical engineering has provided a strong foundation for broader business skills. While a few did pivot into unrelated areas like finance or analytics, the bulk of the graduates seem to have found success by sticking to what they studied. So yeah, overall, these grads from UT Austin are enjoying prosperous careers relevant to their degrees, and that's something to feel good about if you're considering a degree in Chemical Engineering!

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin?

Hey there! So, if you're thinking about a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at UT Austin, I’d say it’s definitely on the tougher side compared to many other degrees. You're diving into a lot of complex topics like thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and reaction engineering, and there’s a good bit of math and chemistry involved, too. You’ll definitely need to be ready to study hard, work through some challenging labs, and keep up with the heavy coursework. But hey, if you’re passionate about it and like problem-solving, it can be super rewarding! Just be prepared for a rigorous yet interesting journey.

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 The University of Texas at Austin tend to make good money?

Looking through the job histories of these Chemical Engineering grads from UT Austin, it seems like most of them are doing pretty well for themselves financially, especially considering the industry. Many have landed roles in respectable companies like ExxonMobil, Apple, and even Boston Dynamics, which suggests they’re likely pulling in good salaries—especially those in senior or managerial roles. For instance, the graduate who climbed the ranks at ExxonMobil from a Reservoir Engineer to a Senior Consultant can definitely be expected to have a decent paycheck by now. However, some roles, especially early on, might not be as lucrative, like internships or entry-level positions, but that's pretty standard in most fields. All in all, it seems like a Chemical Engineering degree from UT opens quite a few doors to well-paying jobs!

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 The University of Texas at Austin). 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