Best colleges for Chemistry in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,034, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago and University of Illinois Chicago award the most Chemistry degrees in Illinois: 163, 153 and 60 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Illinois colleges offer Chemistry and award 756 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,034 | 163 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,659 | 45 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,061 | 33 | 49% | — | $23,023 |
| 4 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,980 | 34 | 45% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Illinois
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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 163 | $47,034 |
| 2 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 153 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 60 | Not reported |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston Private not-for-profit | 60 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 45 | $46,659 |
| 6 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 34 | $31,980 |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 33 | $43,061 |
| 8 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 9 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 29 Illinois colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 14 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 12 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 8 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 5 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 5 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Aurora University | Aurora | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 2 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Quincy University | Quincy | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (163 graduates a year), University of Chicago (153 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Chicago (60 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Illinois colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,034, College Scorecard. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Northern Illinois University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 163 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $47,034. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in Illinois is $98,420 (median $85,230), across about 3,040 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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