Best colleges for Chemistry in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Drexel University, Pennsylvania State University and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Drexel University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,215, College Scorecard. University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus and Pennsylvania State University award the most Chemistry degrees in Pennsylvania: 97, 92 and 74 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 80 Pennsylvania colleges offer Chemistry and award 870 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 9 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 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,215 | 31 | 78% | $36,004 | $29,667 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,009 | 74 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,571 | 92 | 85% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,022 | 36 | 75% | — | $24,000 |
| 5 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,524 | 15 | 58% | — | $20,250 |
| 6 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,137 | 17 | 54% | — | — |
| 7 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,914 | 8 | 79% | $34,418 | — |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,597 | 10 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | La Roche University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,906 | 5 | 57% | $20,380 | $25,956 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 97 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 92 | $43,571 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 74 | $47,009 |
| 4 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 54 | Not reported |
| 5 | Haverford College Haverford Private not-for-profit | 37 | Not reported |
| 6 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 36 | $42,022 |
| 7 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 31 | $49,215 |
| 8 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 70 Pennsylvania colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 17 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 15 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | Public | 13 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 10 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 10 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 9 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Chestnut Hill College | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Delaware Valley University | Doylestown | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology | Harrisburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 6 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| La Roche University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College | Erie | Public | 5 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 5 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 4 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 4 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 4 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | Public | 4 |
| Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 2 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 2 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 2 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 2 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Community College of Beaver County | Monaca | Public | 1 |
| Keystone College | La Plume | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | Greensburg | Public | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 1 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
University of Pennsylvania (97 graduates a year), University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (92 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (74 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 80 Pennsylvania colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Drexel University leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,215, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University and University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Drexel University tops the list at $49,215. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in Pennsylvania is $87,990 (median $77,090), across about 6,800 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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