Chemical Engineering Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Chemical Engineering degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Chemical Engineering in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Chemical Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Chemical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Design and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $78,720.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Chemical Engineering Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Chemical Engineering salary: $82,000 starting, $120,000 mid-career, $150,000 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Chemical Engineering ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Chemical Engineering degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$45,120
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$921,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,008,000) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Chemical Engineering in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Chemical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Chemical Engineering in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Chemical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Chemical Engineering Job Titles
Chemical Engineering in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$84K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$84K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$89K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$86K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$85K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$74K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$69K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$70K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Cleveland
Petroleum Engineering
$48K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$77K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering Degree in Cleveland — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Chemical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Cleveland.