Best colleges for Chemistry in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
East Carolina University, North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina Wilmington are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. East Carolina University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,875, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Western Carolina University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh award the most Chemistry degrees in North Carolina: 155, 79 and 77 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 North Carolina colleges offer Chemistry and award 707 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 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,875 | 40 | 63% | — | $24,250 |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,071 | 77 | 85% | — | $20,154 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,473 | 53 | 71% | — | $19,935 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,488 | 52 | 75% | — | $24,949 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,482 | 47 | 69% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,516 | 155 | 91% | — | $14,250 |
| 7 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,748 | 44 | 97% | $16,260 | $8,457 |
| 8 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,513 | 79 | 60% | — | $20,824 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,891 | 7 | 54% | — | $12,825 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,579 | 11 | 44% | — | $25,766 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 155 | $32,516 |
| 2 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 79 | $26,513 |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 77 | $47,071 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 53 | $44,473 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 52 | $40,488 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 47 | $35,482 |
| 7 | Duke University Durham Private not-for-profit | 44 | $29,748 |
| 8 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 40 | $47,875 |
| 9 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 10 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 25 North Carolina colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 13 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro | Public | 11 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 11 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 11 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | Asheville | Public | 7 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wingate University | Wingate | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 3 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| North Carolina Wesleyan University | Rocky Mount | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Salem College | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (155 graduates a year), Western Carolina University (79 graduates a year) and North Carolina State University at Raleigh (77 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 North Carolina colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, East Carolina University leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,875, College Scorecard. North Carolina State University at Raleigh and University of North Carolina Wilmington follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the largest, with 155 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Carolina University tops the list at $47,875. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in North Carolina?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in North Carolina is $90,800 (median $82,620), across about 4,530 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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