Chemistry degree instead of Chemical Engineering?

For what it's worth.....
I asked a chem eng. student about the chemistry he had to study
and he said he really did not need to know that much chemistry
because he could always hire a chemist when necessary.
He said, "They work cheap."
May have just been arrogance on his part
but probably worth checking out.

JulianDavis is generally correct. The market is smaller for Chemists and starting salaries are in the 40K range. I just graduated last year in Chemical Engineering and have to say that the program is extremely rigorous.

If you are on a Chemistry track, you will generally take the same courses up through sophomore year (minus one or two engineering ones). After that, a Chemist will take more in depth courses like Inorganic, more labs, analytics, etc.. A Chem E will take more macro type courses such as Fluid Dynamics, Mass Transfer, Reactor Design. While these courses require Chemistry knowledge, they don't require a very detailed understanding.

As too switching between the two, if you get solely a degree in Chemistry you will not be prepared for grad school in Engineering because you will not have the basis of the profession. If you want to do Engineering now, I would. I have a friend who graduated with a Chemistry degree, worked a dead end job and is now going back to get an Engineering degree. It will take him at least two years to do it... I would say try taking a Chem E class and then make your decision.