Why chemical engineering ?

<p>As someone recently noted here Minn seems to have developed a good reputation for its chemical engineering program. Can anyone provide more information about how and why U of Minn. has developed this reputation ? Is this for undergraduates as well as the graduate program - or just one of them?</p>

<p>I know that 3M is in the neighborhood but can one company make that much of a difference ?</p>

<p>Good question and I hope there will be some comments. I have been wondering why MN and WI are rated so high myself and have yet to find much discussion. I am trying to compare their programs to some privates like Northwestern, WashU, Rice, Vandy, U of Tulsa and John Hodgkins</p>

<p>3m, Medtronic, Cargill, GM, recruit heavily from U of M. Both undergrad and grad degrees in ChemE at the U are top 3 in the nation. Undrgrad starting salary of undergrad ChemEs is over $62000, which is dam high for someone who just got out of college...but I don't really know how they developed this reputation.</p>

<p>But realize Chemical Engineering is the hardest major, a lot of people drop out because it's too rigorous, and the highest GPA possible is like a 3.6</p>