Best colleges for Chemistry in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Merced and California State University - Long Beach are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Berkeley leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,576, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley, University of California-San Diego and University of California-Irvine award the most Chemistry degrees in California: 234, 229 and 192 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 131 California colleges offer Chemistry and award 2,808 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Chemistry program focuses on the scientific study of matter, including its composition, structure, properties, and behavior. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the fundamental aspects of chemical reactions…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,576 | 234 | 93% | — | $11,172 |
| 2 | University of California-Merced Merced Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,944 | 41 | 69% | — | $15,000 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,553 | 31 | 69% | — | $15,680 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,197 | 92 | 83% | — | $15,805 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,310 | 229 | 86% | — | $16,100 |
| 6 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,076 | 30 | 70% | — | $18,675 |
| 7 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,944 | 26 | 53% | — | $11,000 |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,874 | 24 | 57% | — | — |
| 9 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,140 | 21 | 50% | — | — |
| 10 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,766 | 192 | 87% | — | $13,276 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 234 | $59,576 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 229 | $45,310 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 192 | $43,766 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 165 | $42,358 |
| 5 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 104 | $42,204 |
| 6 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 92 | $47,197 |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 82 | $39,676 |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 60 | $43,294 |
| 9 | Irvine Valley College Irvine Public | 60 | Not reported |
| 10 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill Public | 54 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 121 California colleges offering Chemistry
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
University of California-Berkeley (234 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (229 graduates a year) and University of California-Irvine (192 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 131 California colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of California-Berkeley leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $59,576, College Scorecard. University of California-Merced and California State University - Long Beach follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Berkeley is the largest, with 234 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Berkeley tops the list at $59,576. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in California is $106,810 (median $97,860), across about 9,820 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Chemistry program?+
The Chemistry program focuses on the scientific study of matter, including its composition, structure, properties, and behavior. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the fundamental aspects of chemical reactions…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Chemists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 6,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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