6 Best Online Chemical Engineering Degree Programs for STEM Careers

Chemical engineering combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering principles across one of the broadest and most financially rewarding technical disciplines available. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $121,860 for chemical engineers as of 2024 — nearly two and a half times the national median across all occupations — with applications spanning pharmaceuticals, energy, food production, advanced materials, and environmental engineering. The field's breadth makes it one of the most durable engineering credentials across economic cycles.

For working professionals, the central constraint has historically been that chemical engineering requires hands-on laboratory work that ABET accreditation mandates cannot be waived — which limits how much of the degree can be genuinely delivered online. The programmes below are labelled by format so readers understand exactly what each one offers rather than discovering campus requirements after applying.

TL;DR — Best Picks

School	Degree	ABET	Format	Best For
University of North Dakota	B.S. Chemical Engineering	EAC of ABET	Hybrid online	Working professionals, universal tuition rate
Arizona State University	B.S. Chemical Engineering	EAC of ABET	Online-compatible	Innovation-focused curriculum
Oregon State University	B.S. Chemical Engineering	EAC of ABET	Online (Ecampus)	Flexible scheduling, four start windows
Purdue University	M.S. Chemical Engineering	EAC of ABET	Online	Graduate advancement for working engineers
Embry-Riddle Worldwide	B.S. Aerospace Engineering	ABET	Fully online	Aerospace-adjacent applied engineering
Southern New Hampshire University	STEM-adjacent pathways	Regional accreditation	Fully online	Foundational STEM, maximum accessibility

Why ABET Accreditation is Non-Negotiable for Chemical Engineers

ABET accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission is the prerequisite for sitting the Fundamentals of Engineering examination — the first step toward Professional Engineer licensure in all 50 states. Employers in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, and food production use EAC accreditation as a baseline screening criterion for engineering roles. A chemical engineering degree without ABET EAC accreditation creates a professional ceiling that is very difficult to overcome later in a career, particularly for roles requiring a PE stamp.

6 Best Online Chemical Engineering Degree Programs for STEM Careers

1. University of North Dakota – Best for Hybrid Online Chemical Engineering Education

UND's chemical engineer degree online is the most documented flexible option for chemical engineering in the United States, with all coursework delivered online in asynchronous format and laboratory requirements condensed into summer intensives on campus. That structure is the direct response to ABET's laboratory requirements — the only element of the degree that genuinely cannot be replicated online — delivered in a format that working professionals can plan around without taking extended leaves of absence.

The programme is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET and qualifies graduates for FE examination eligibility in all states. UND has delivered distance engineering education for over 40 years, which means the online infrastructure supporting this programme has been refined across decades rather than assembled reactively. Online students pay the same tuition rate regardless of state of residence — a structural financial advantage that removes the out-of-state premium that makes many public universities expensive for distance learners.

UND has been investing significantly in distance engineering education since before most institutions recognised the market demand for it, which produces a student support infrastructure — advising, tutoring, online lab simulation tools, and faculty accessibility — that genuinely serves distance learners rather than treating them as an adaptation of the on-campus model.

Key Differentiator: One of the most clearly documented hybrid online ABET EAC-accredited B.S. in Chemical Engineering in the country — all coursework online with condensed summer laboratory intensives as the only campus requirement, at the same tuition rate for all online students regardless of residency

2. Arizona State University – Best for Innovation-Focused Chemical Engineering

ASU's chemical engineering programme at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering holds ABET EAC accreditation and is delivered in an online-compatible format — though prospective students should confirm current delivery percentages and laboratory requirements directly with the department, as programme structures evolve and the line between online-compatible and fully online changes over time.

ASU has been ranked the number one innovation university by U.S. News for nine consecutive years, and that institutional orientation toward applied, forward-looking education carries through into how engineering programmes are structured and updated. For chemical engineering specifically, the curriculum integrates simulation, computational tools, and modern process design alongside traditional thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and reaction engineering — reflecting how chemical engineering practice increasingly incorporates digital tools rather than treating them as specialisation electives.

The university's strong industry partnerships span pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, sustainability technology, and energy — sectors where chemical engineering graduates from ASU have established employer relationships. Multiple start dates throughout the year reduce the waiting period that delays many working professionals when programmes only admit students once annually.

Key Differentiator: ABET EAC-accredited chemical engineering programme from the number one innovation university in the U.S. — with industry partnerships across pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and sustainability technology and curriculum integrating modern computational tools alongside traditional engineering fundamentals

3. Oregon State University Ecampus – Best for Flexible Scheduling

Oregon State's chemical engineering programme, delivered through OSU Ecampus, offers flexible scheduling options for students who want the academic quality of a top-tier land-grant research university alongside meaningful remote learning accommodation. OSU Ecampus has consistently ranked among the strongest online learning platforms at public research universities nationally, reflecting genuine institutional investment in distance education rather than a nominal online offering.

The chemical engineering curriculum covers thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, reactor design, and process control — the core competencies that define the discipline and qualify graduates for the full range of chemical engineering career pathways. Four start windows per year give working professionals more flexibility in when they begin than programmes with a single or biannual intake. Prospective students should confirm current online delivery percentages and laboratory requirements directly with the department, as these details shift across academic years.

Oregon State's research strengths in sustainable engineering, bioprocessing, and energy systems reflect industry directions where chemical engineering career demand is growing, giving the programme relevance not just for traditional chemical manufacturing roles but for the sustainability and energy transition sectors creating new employment demand.

Key Differentiator: Chemical engineering programme from a top-ranked OSU Ecampus platform with four annual start windows and research strengths in sustainable engineering, bioprocessing, and energy systems — providing scheduling flexibility and curriculum relevance for the growing sustainability and energy transition employment market

4. Purdue University – Best for Graduate-Level Chemical Engineering Advancement

Purdue's online graduate programmes in chemical engineering serve working professionals who already hold an ABET-accredited chemical engineering bachelor's and want to advance toward senior technical, management, or research roles. Purdue's chemical engineering school is among the most respected in the United States — producing graduates who have filled leadership roles across the chemical, pharmaceutical, energy, and advanced materials industries for decades.

The online MS programmes deliver the same faculty and curriculum as on-campus graduate study with no campus attendance requirement, and the degree appears identically on the diploma and transcript. Multiple college ranking publications have recognised Purdue's online engineering graduate programmes among the top nationally, confirming quality recognition that extends specifically to the distance format rather than only to the institution's on-campus reputation.

For working chemical engineers who need a graduate credential to advance into senior technical, process engineering, or R&D leadership roles — and who cannot step away from employment to complete a residential programme — Purdue's online MS provides the most institutionally recognised credential in that category available through distance delivery.

Key Differentiator: Graduate-level online MS in Chemical Engineering from one of the world's most recognised engineering schools — identical faculty and curriculum to the on-campus programme, consistently ranked among the top online engineering master's nationally

5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide – Best for Aerospace Engineering Adjacent to Chemical Disciplines

Embry-Riddle Worldwide offers online engineering programmes in aerospace and aeronautical engineering rather than chemical engineering directly — which makes it a relevant option specifically for chemical engineering professionals or students whose career interests intersect with aerospace applications: propulsion systems, aerospace materials, thermal management, and combustion engineering all draw on chemical engineering foundations.

For working professionals in defence, aviation, space technology, or propulsion who want to formalise and advance their technical credentials through a fully online ABET-accredited engineering programme from the most sector-recognised institution in aerospace, Embry-Riddle Worldwide provides the most directly industry-matched option in those specific fields. The connection between chemical engineering principles and aerospace applications means the curriculum overlap is genuine rather than superficial.

Prospective students should understand clearly that Embry-Riddle's credential is in aerospace engineering rather than chemical engineering — the career contexts where these overlap are real, but the professional credentials are distinct.

Key Differentiator: ABET-accredited online aerospace engineering programme from the most sector-recognised institution in aviation and aerospace — the most directly matched option for chemical engineers building careers in aerospace propulsion, materials, and thermal management applications

6. Southern New Hampshire University – Best for Accessible STEM Pathway Entry

SNHU does not offer a chemical engineering degree — prospective engineers should understand this clearly before applying. What SNHU offers is a range of STEM-adjacent and technology programmes with the most accessible enrolment infrastructure of any institution on this list: rolling admissions, generous transfer credit policies, affordable tuition, and strong student support systems designed specifically for adult learners returning to education from diverse starting points.

For professionals at the beginning of a technical career exploration — those who are considering engineering but want to assess fit through accessible foundational STEM coursework before committing to a full engineering programme — SNHU's accessibility advantages are genuine and practically valuable. For anyone specifically seeking a chemical engineering credential, SNHU is not the right programme and prospective students should pursue one of the ABET-accredited options earlier on this list.

Key Differentiator: Maximum enrolment accessibility with rolling admissions, generous transfer credit policies, and strong online student support — a STEM pathway starting point for professionals at the earliest stage of technical career exploration rather than a chemical engineering credential programme

Choosing the Right Programme

The most useful first decision is whether you need a full chemical engineering degree with ABET EAC accreditation qualifying you for FE examination eligibility or whether an adjacent or foundational option better matches your current career stage.

For working professionals who need an ABET EAC-accredited B.S. in Chemical Engineering with the most clearly documented online delivery available, UND's hybrid model with condensed summer lab intensives is the most straightforwardly structured option. For professionals in the innovation-oriented technology and sustainability sectors where ASU's industry partnerships are most directly relevant, its online-compatible programme provides strong employer connection alongside ABET credentials. For students who want the OSU Ecampus platform's established distance learning infrastructure and four annual start windows, Oregon State provides a strong alternative with research strengths aligned to growing employment sectors.

For working chemical engineers who already hold a bachelor's and want graduate-level advancement at a top-ranked programme, Purdue's online MS provides the strongest institutional credential in that category. For professionals building careers specifically in aerospace and propulsion applications where chemical engineering principles intersect with aerospace practice, Embry-Riddle Worldwide's sector-specific reputation provides advantages that generalist programmes cannot offer. For professionals at the earliest stage of technical career exploration who need maximum accessibility before committing to a full engineering programme, SNHU's enrolment infrastructure provides the most friction-free starting point.

FAQ

Can you get an ABET-accredited chemical engineering degree online?

Very few institutions offer a fully online ABET EAC-accredited chemical engineering bachelor's degree because ABET's laboratory requirements mandate hands-on experience that cannot be replicated remotely. UND's hybrid model — all coursework online with condensed summer lab intensives — is the most clearly documented approach to meeting those requirements in a distance-friendly format. Prospective students should verify current ABET accreditation status and delivery format directly with any programme before applying.

What salary can chemical engineers expect?

The BLS reports a median annual wage of $121,860 for chemical engineers as of 2024, making it one of the highest-compensating undergraduate engineering disciplines. Top-paying sectors include petroleum and coal products manufacturing, pipeline transportation, and oil and gas extraction. Salary grows substantially with Professional Engineer licensure, which requires an ABET EAC-accredited degree as its first step.

How does ABET accreditation affect career outcomes for chemical engineers?

ABET EAC accreditation is the prerequisite for FE examination eligibility in all states, which is the first step toward PE licensure. Many employers in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, and food production use ABET accreditation as a baseline screening criterion. A degree without EAC accreditation creates a professional ceiling that is very difficult to overcome for roles requiring a PE stamp or in industries where ABET credentials are standard hiring expectations.

What is the difference between chemical engineering and chemical engineering technology?

Chemical engineering focuses on engineering theory, design, and system development — producing graduates who create and improve chemical processes. It is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Chemical engineering technology focuses on applying and implementing existing processes rather than designing them — accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Both are legitimate credentials, but they lead to different professional profiles, and employers in many chemical engineering roles specifically require EAC-accredited degrees.