What can you do with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Pittsburgh?

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Pittsburgh 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 21 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Pittsburgh have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 73%
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 19% 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 University of Pittsburgh and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2013 from University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Process Engineer
Tredegar Film Products
Aug 2013 - Aug 2014
As a Process Engineer at Tredegar Film Products, this position directly employs the skills and knowledge acquired from a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, requiring a strong understanding of chemical processes and engineering principles.

ABOUT

A data-driven and proactive engineer with experience in polymer and biopharmaceutical manufacturing and efficiency focuses. Provides prompt and effective troubleshooting in daily production as well as a robust process for addressing cost and productivity concerns through project leadership and support. Known for revamping data collection systems to provide more accurate, relevant, and detailed information for site management.

What jobs can you get with a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Pittsburgh?

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


From analyzing the job titles of graduates with a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh, it seems that they often find positions in roles like process engineering, research and development, and various engineering consulting roles. Many of these jobs, such as Process Engineer, R&D Engineer, and Fluid Systems Engineer, are directly relevant to chemical engineering as they require specific knowledge of chemical processes and engineering principles that these graduates studied during their degree. Similarly, positions like Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching roles also reflect a strong connection to chemical engineering as they involve utilizing subject-specific skills in research or education.

However, there’s also a noticeable trend where some graduates take on roles that are less closely related to chemical engineering. For instance, positions in sales, customer service, or even risk management, while they can benefit from analytical skills gained in engineering, often do not require deep technical expertise in chemical engineering itself. Roles like Motor Coach Operator or Technical Sales Engineer show that some graduates veer away from traditional engineering paths, which might call into question the relevance of their education in those cases. Overall, while many jobs directly apply chemical engineering knowledge, there's a significant number of graduates who end up in roles where their degree might not play a crucial role in their daily work life.

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 University of Pittsburgh):

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

Graduates from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Chemical Engineering seem to have pretty solid career trajectories overall. Generally, right out of college, it looks like many land roles related to engineering, product development, or research. For example, many early roles include internships and positions like process engineers or quality assurance technicians, which directly relate to their field. This indicates that these graduates are finding relevant first jobs pretty quickly after graduation, laying a strong foundation for their careers.

Fast forward about five to ten years, and many alumni progress into more advanced roles, including positions like engineering consultants, managers, and even professors. Some move toward specialized roles within large companies—like the graduates who advanced through various engineering roles at firms like Westinghouse Electric or Chromalox, working their way up from technician or junior engineer levels to senior positions. While a few have taken detours into unrelated fields—like working in roles outside of engineering—the majority appear to stay within the engineering realm and continue to climb the ladder. All in all, it seems that a degree in Chemical Engineering from Pitt can lead to a range of good opportunities that are relevant to their studies.

How hard is a Chemical Engineering degree from University of Pittsburgh?

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, including at the University of Pittsburgh, is generally considered to be pretty challenging. You’re diving into a lot of complex topics like thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and chemical reaction engineering, which can definitely push your math and science skills to the limit. The workload can be quite heavy, with tough problem sets, lab work, and projects that require both individual effort and teamwork. While some people find it manageable if they're passionate about the subject, others might struggle a bit more. Overall, it's definitely on the harder side compared to some other majors, so be prepared to put in some serious effort if you decide to go for it!

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 University of Pittsburgh tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Chemical Engineering grads from the University of Pittsburgh, it seems like they're generally doing pretty well in terms of their careers and salary potential. Many of them landed solid engineering roles right after graduation, often with reputable companies, which is a good sign that they’re likely making decent money. For instance, positions like Assistant Professor, Senior Risk Associate at Capital One, and various engineering roles at Westinghouse Electric and PepsiCo suggest they're in fields that can pay well, especially as they gain experience and take on more responsibility. That said, there’s a mix of job roles; some started off with internships and more entry-level positions, which probably paid less initially. But overall, it looks like most of them have built up their careers in ways that should lead to comfortable salaries, especially as they continue to climb the ladder in their respective fields.

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 University of Pittsburgh). 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