Best colleges for Chemistry in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern University, College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Northeastern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,511, College Scorecard. Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Massachusetts-Amherst award the most Chemistry degrees in Massachusetts: 126, 70 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Massachusetts colleges offer Chemistry and award 850 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 7 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 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,511 | 62 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,500 |
| 2 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,313 | 46 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,641 | 41 | 86% | $25,074 | $25,484 |
| 4 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,840 | 24 | 94% | $10,747 | $12,000 |
| 5 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,157 | 53 | 89% | $21,956 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,376 | 19 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Salem State University Salem Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,439 | 6 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Massachusetts
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 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 126 | Not reported |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 70 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 4 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 62 | $62,511 |
| 5 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 53 | $39,157 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 7 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester Private not-for-profit | 46 | $47,313 |
| 8 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 45 | Not reported |
| 9 | Brandeis University Waltham Private not-for-profit | 41 | $46,641 |
| 10 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 32 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 30 Massachusetts colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 27 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | Public | 20 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 19 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 7 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 6 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 5 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | Public | 3 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 2 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 2 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | Public | 1 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 1 |
| Greenfield Community College | Greenfield | Public | 1 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 1 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
Harvard University (126 graduates a year), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (70 graduates a year) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst (63 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Massachusetts colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern University leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $62,511, College Scorecard. College of the Holy Cross and Brandeis University follow. By degrees awarded, Harvard University is the largest, with 126 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern University tops the list at $62,511. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in Massachusetts is $128,930 (median $125,000), across about 3,430 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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