Best colleges for Chemistry in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
University at Albany, New York University and University at Buffalo are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in New York by graduate earnings. University at Albany leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,276, College Scorecard. Stony Brook University, New York University and Cornell University award the most Chemistry degrees in New York: 112, 108 and 96 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 76 New York colleges offer Chemistry and award 1,149 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 at Albany Albany Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,276 | 34 | 61% | — | $25,856 |
| 2 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,249 | 108 | 88% | $29,023 | $23,250 |
| 3 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,284 | 56 | 75% | — | $23,250 |
| 4 | Binghamton University Vestal Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,115 | 55 | 82% | — | $19,500 |
| 5 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,239 | 21 | 54% | — | — |
| 6 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,685 | 112 | 76% | — | $22,750 |
| 7 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,340 | 77 | 57% | — | $9,000 |
| 8 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,372 | 96 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,121 |
| 9 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $52,645 | 6 | 60% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,815 | 19 | 51% | — | $12,136 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn Public · Certificate Small program | $29,339 | 3 | 32% | — | $13,818 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in New York
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 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook Public | 112 | $31,685 |
| 2 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 108 | $37,249 |
| 3 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 96 | $28,372 |
| 4 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 77 | Not reported |
| 5 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public | 77 | $29,340 |
| 6 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 7 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 56 | $35,284 |
| 8 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 55 | $35,115 |
| 9 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 42 | Not reported |
| 10 | University at Albany Albany Public | 34 | $48,276 |
ShowHide the other 66 New York colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center (Online) | New York | Public | 36 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn | Public | 21 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 19 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn | Public | 19 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Fordham University | Bronx | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Iona University | New Rochelle | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Clarkson University | Potsdam | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Colgate University | Hamilton | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point | Public | 10 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 9 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | Public | 8 |
| Siena University | Loudonville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Union College | Schenectady | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| St Lawrence University | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Syracuse | Public | 7 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 7 |
| SUNY Old Westbury | Old Westbury | Public | 7 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens | Public | 6 |
| State University of New York at Oswego | Oswego | Public | 6 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | Public | 6 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | Bayside | Public | 5 |
| Ithaca College | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Marist University | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| SUNY at Purchase College | Purchase | Public | 5 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| CUNY City College | New York | Public | 4 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Le Moyne College | Syracuse | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Pace University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 4 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 4 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 4 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island | Public | 3 |
| Hartwick College | Oneonta | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Manhattan University | Riverdale | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Niagara County Community College | Sanborn | Public | 3 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Utica University | Utica | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wagner College | Staten Island | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Alfred University | Alfred | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| CUNY York College | Jamaica | Public | 2 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | Sparkill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| St. Joseph's University - New York | Brooklyn | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Simon's Rock at Bard College | Barrytown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | Public | 1 |
| D'Youville University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Houghton University | Houghton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St Bonaventure University | Saint Bonaventure | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 1 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 1 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | Potsdam | Public | 1 |
| Touro University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Yeshiva University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
Stony Brook University (112 graduates a year), New York University (108 graduates a year) and Cornell University (96 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 76 New York colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in New York?+
By graduate earnings, University at Albany leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,276, College Scorecard. New York University and University at Buffalo follow. By degrees awarded, Stony Brook University is the largest, with 112 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University at Albany tops the list at $48,276. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in New York is $100,920 (median $90,600), across about 4,230 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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