California · Chemistry

Best Chemistry institutions in California, ranked by earnings

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…

Institutions
128
offering CIP 40.05
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,851
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$46,131
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
23
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,171
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
53%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Chemists
$105,500
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$59,57620793%$11,172
2University of California - Merced
Merced Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,9443369%$15,000
3California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,5534369%$15,680
4California State University - San Marcos
San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree
$49,3821555%
5University of California - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,19710683%$15,805
6California State University - Channel Islands
Camarillo Public · Bachelor's degree
$46,1312251%$21,375
7University of California - San Diego
La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,31025186%$16,100
8California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,0763070%$18,675
9California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,9443353%$11,000
10California State University - Northridge
Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,8742857%

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~6,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$84,150
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

ScienceReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingMathematics

What Chemists earn in California

Jobs in California
8,480
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$105,500
median $97,010
Best-paying metro
$125,590
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Computer Occupations, All Other
$136,310 avg · 85,270 jobs
Data Scientists
$155,450 avg · 36,850 jobs
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$107,420 avg · 13,200 jobs
Computer and Information Research Scientists
$163,890 avg · 8,570 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in California.

Which Chemistry program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of California - Berkeley tops the list at $59,576. Compare it against completions, 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 $105,500 (median $97,010), across about 8,480 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card