The undergraduate experience includes course work, independent research experience and a host of departmental activities.
The undergraduate program provides a chemical engineering degree that is a passport to many careers in directly related industries as diverse as biochemical engineering, environmental management, and pharmaceuticals. The degree is also used by many students as a springboard from which to launch careers in medicine, law, management, banking and finance, politics, and other pursuits. For those interested in the fundamentals, a career of research and teaching is a natural continuation of their undergraduate studies. Whichever path the student may choose after graduation, the program offers a deep understanding of the physical and chemical nature of things and provides an insight into an exploding variety of new technologies that are rapidly reshaping the society we live in.
The Mission of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University is to provide an outstanding academic and research experience to students to prepare them to meet the needs and challenges of the 21st century.
Graduates of the Chemical Engineering Program achieve success in one or more of the following within a few years of graduation:
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*Note: students in the Classes of 2026 & 2027 may choose to use either the "new" or "old" study plan. Students in the Class of 2028 and later are required to use the "New" study plan.
Upon graduation, we expect our students to have:
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophomores | 19 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 25 |
| Juniors | 38 | 30 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 22 |
| Seniors | 31 | 37 | 29 | 22 | 19 | 16 |
| Total | 88 | 82 | 63 | 54 | 55 | 63 |
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduates | 31 | 39 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 14 |
What matters most to us is your ability to thrive at Columbia.
We offer plenty of financial options to support you through your journey with us. Learn more about the types of aid that are available.
Considering launching a startup during your studies or after you graduate? Columbia Engineering Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurship team can help you develop the business acumen to successfully launch your venture.
The team offers specialist entrepreneurship courses, bootcamps, networking opportunities and spaces for prototyping and testing. They also organize competitions with opportunities to win seed funding. This community of talented professors, students and alumni will give you the network of support needed to achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Entrepreneurship Opportunities