Colorado · Chemistry

Best colleges for Chemistry in Colorado

Ranked by graduate earnings

Colorado State University - Fort Collins, University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado School of Mines award the most Chemistry degrees in Colorado: 60, 58 and 26 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Colorado colleges offer Chemistry and award 299 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…

Institutions
20
offering CIP 40.05
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
299
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,417
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,510
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Chemists
$106,480
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,4062151%—$26,626
2Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,6606067%—$19,062
3Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,4171732%—$29,318
4Fort Lewis College
Durango Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$34,1591736%—$15,417

Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Colorado

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Fort Collins Public
60$42,660
2University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public
58Not reported
3Colorado School of Mines
Golden Public
26Not reported
4University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public
21$45,406
5University of Denver
Denver Private not-for-profit
19Not reported
6Fort Lewis College
Durango Public
17$34,159
7Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public
17$34,417
8Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction Public
16Not reported
9United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy Public
16Not reported
10Colorado College
Colorado Springs Private not-for-profit
11Not reported
Show the other 10 Colorado colleges offering Chemistry
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenverPublic10
Adams State UniversityAlamosaPublic8
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado SpringsPublic7
Colorado State University PuebloPuebloPublic5
Regis UniversityDenverPrivate not-for-profit2
Western Colorado UniversityGunnisonPublic2
Arapahoe Community CollegeLittletonPublic1
Front Range Community CollegeWestminsterPublic1
Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado SpringsPublic1
Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewoodPublic1

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 Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
1,790
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$106,480
median $101,980
Best-paying metro
$110,740
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Related careers

Computer Occupations, All Other
$133,030 avg · 11,800 jobs
Data Scientists
$126,800 avg · 6,280 jobs
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$98,930 avg · 2,580 jobs
Chemists
$106,480 avg · 1,790 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Colorado.

Which Colorado colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+

Colorado State University - Fort Collins (60 graduates a year), University of Colorado Boulder (58 graduates a year) and Colorado School of Mines (26 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Colorado colleges offer Chemistry.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Northern Colorado tops the list at $45,406. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Chemists earn in Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Chemists in Colorado is $106,480 (median $101,980), across about 1,790 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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