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

First, some facts. Of the Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Virginia 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Chemical Engineering graduates from University of Virginia 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 8% 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 Virginia and our analysis:


Relevance score: 50%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Senior Consultant
Appian Corporation
Aug 2019 - Jun 2022
The role of Senior Consultant may involve some analytical and problem-solving skills relevant to chemical engineering, but it is not directly focused on the core qualifications of the degree.

Information Security Application Engineer
Appian Corporation
Jun 2022 - Apr 2024
As an Information Security Application Engineer, some engineering principles may be applicable, but the job's primary focus is on information security, which is not a core qualification of chemical engineering.

Senior Information Security Engineer
Appian Corporation
Apr 2024 - Present
The role of Senior Information Security Engineer may utilize analytical skills that could be likened to those trained in chemical engineering, but it fundamentally centers on information security rather than chemical engineering principles.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


When looking at the job paths of Chemical Engineering graduates from the University of Virginia, it’s clear that there's a mixed bag of positions they take on after graduation. Many graduates end up in roles that are tightly connected to chemical engineering principles, especially in industries like energy and pharmaceuticals. For instance, positions such as Process Engineer or Senior Process Safety Engineer are clear extensions of their educational background, where they can employ the core skills they'd developed during their studies. It's also cool to see roles in patent law and consultancy being filled by these grads, where their engineering expertise informs their work in tech and intellectual property, showing that there's value in their degree even outside traditional engineering roles.

However, there's quite a few who venture off the beaten path into areas that don’t directly relate to chemical engineering. Take, for instance, software consultancy or product management roles – while they may require problem-solving skills honed during a chemical engineering education, they're a far cry from processes involving chemical reactions or material properties. It's kind of like getting a Swiss Army knife for a toolbox but then only using it to unstick jars. So, while many graduates have found their chemical engineering degrees to be highly relevant in their careers, there are others who have strayed into less directly related fields, utilizing some of their skills but in ways not traditionally associated with chemical engineering. Overall, the degree definitely opens doors, just sometimes those doors lead to unexpected places!

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 Virginia):

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

Graduates from the University of Virginia with a degree in Chemical Engineering seem to have pretty diverse career paths, but there’s a strong trend toward roles that align with engineering and technical fields. Most graduates land their first jobs right out of school in positions related to chemical engineering, such as process engineers or safety engineers, often within major companies in the energy or manufacturing sectors. For example, many have started their careers at organizations like bp, DuPont, or Intel, which reflects a solid entry into the core chemical engineering field.

Fast forward five to ten years, and you'll find that while some have remained in traditional engineering roles, others have ventured into areas like project management, consulting, and even law or software development. It’s interesting to note that a few graduates have transitioned into roles that might not seem directly related to chemical engineering at first, like product management or consulting. However, even with these transitions, it looks like they’re utilizing their analytical and problem-solving skills learned during their engineering studies. Overall, it seems like most of these graduates are doing well in their careers, often progressing to senior roles, and while there are a few who’ve taken more unconventional paths, it doesn’t look like anyone's struggling to find fulfilling work. The trajectory suggests that a degree in Chemical Engineering from UVA offers robust opportunities both in and out of traditional engineering roles.

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering can be pretty tough, and that’s definitely true at the University of Virginia. It's a rigorous program that combines a lot of challenging subjects like math, chemistry, and physics, plus you’ll be doing labs and projects that can take a lot of time and effort. You’ll need to be ready to tackle some complex problems and stay organized since the workload can get intense, especially during exams. So, if you're considering this major, be prepared for some late nights and a lot of studying—it’s definitely on the harder side compared to other degrees!

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 Virginia tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Chemical Engineering graduates from UVA, it seems like they're generally doing pretty well for themselves. Many of them have landed solid jobs in big companies like Bloomberg, bp, and Intel, which usually means decent salaries right out of school. The ones who went into patent examination and consulting also seem to be on a good career path; especially the guy who became an attorney, since that usually pays really well. A few of them have taken a bit of a winding road, like the brewer who started in the food industry, but even then, working your way up in a cool industry can pay off. Overall, it looks like these grads are likely making good money and building promising careers!

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 Virginia). 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