A career in chemical engineering can take you into the top laboratories and institutions in Nebraska. One Nebraska school awards degrees in this field: University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This university awards Associate’s degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees, and PHDs in this field. The average cost of tuition is $14,700 per year.
To be a successful chemical engineer, you need a strong knowledge of engineering techniques, how chemicals work, and how to safely work in an engineering lab. You can get all of these skills and more with a Bachelor’s degree. To earn a Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, you must complete 120 credits. This may take between four and five years. Courses at this level include Chemical Process Control, Cell & Tissue Engineering, and Introduction to Polymers. Since lab safety and technique are both so important, you can plan on spending at least 10 hours per week in the engineering lab every semester.
If a career in the research sector is in your future, you should plan on working towards a Master’s degree or PhD. Some graduate-level courses you must take include Polymer Rheology & Processing, Introduction to Polymers, and Chemical Reaction Engineering.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tuition rates vary for residents and non-residents. If you are a resident of Nebraska, you can plan on spending $8,060 on tuition every year. If you are not a resident of Nebraska, tuition will cost you $21,388 per year. Rates are different for part-time students; residents pay $216 per credit hour and non-residents pay $660.25 per credit hour.
There are many engineering scholarships that can help you pay for tuition, books, and other educational costs. Some scholarships offered through UNL include the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the Truman Scholarship, and the Udall Scholarship.
To become licensed as a Professional Engineer, you must first take and pass the Principles & Practice of Engineering exam. You can then apply for your license through the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects.
There are several professional benefits you can enjoy when you join the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers. You may be able to attend exclusive educational events and networking events. Their career resources may even be able to increase your earning potential! O*Net reports that the average salary for a Nebraska chemical engineer is $79,900 per year.