Best institutions to study Chemistry
Compare 1,187 U.S. colleges offering Chemistry by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Chemistry programs report a median of $42,475 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 40.05 and the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Chemistry programs
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 and the nature of chemical bonds in compounds. It prepares graduates for various roles in research, industry, and environmental science. Students in this program will explore different specializations such as Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry. The curriculum is designed for those who are curious about the physical sciences and wish to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, making it suitable for aspiring scientists and professionals in related fields.
Core coursework in the Chemistry program includes subjects that enhance skills in science, mathematics, and critical thinking. Students will gain knowledge in analytical methods, chemical properties, and the use of various techniques such as chromatography and spectroscopy. Emphasis is also placed on effective communication and technical writing.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,511 | 62 | 91% | $18,925 | $24,500 |
| 2 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,576 | 234 | 93% | — | $11,172 |
| 3 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,389 | 23 | 65% | — | $23,600 |
| 4 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,376 | 19 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of Delaware Newark, DE Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,055 | 53 | 81% | — | $24,893 |
| 6 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,607 | 22 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,765 | 36 | 69% | — | $23,000 |
| 8 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,645 | 6 | 60% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,216 | 63 | 83% | — | $26,158 |
| 10 | University of California - Merced Merced, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,944 | 41 | 69% | — | $15,000 |
| 11 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,717 | 39 | 65% | — | $12,000 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,659 | 33 | 64% | — | $23,250 |
| 13 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,553 | 31 | 69% | — | $15,680 |
| 14 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,524 | 15 | 58% | — | $20,250 |
| 15 | Weber State University Ogden, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,350 | 9 | 46% | — | — |
| 16 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,304 | 24 | 68% | — | $24,250 |
| 17 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,169 | 10 | 68% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,007 | 2 | 60% | $20,981 | — |
| 19 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,497 | 10 | 55% | — | $24,830 |
| 20 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,462 | 156 | 84% | — | $19,500 |
| 21 | Salem State University Salem, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,439 | 6 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,386 | 7 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 23 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,382 | 14 | 55% | — | — |
| 24 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,215 | 31 | 78% | $36,004 | $29,667 |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,903 | 7 | 59% | — | $25,250 |
| 26 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,886 | 191 | 90% | — | $26,043 |
| 27 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,783 | 50 | 76% | — | $20,747 |
| 28 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,527 | 31 | 65% | — | $22,104 |
| 29 | Augusta University Augusta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,382 | 18 | 49% | — | $23,031 |
| 30 | Murray State University Murray, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,334 | 16 | 61% | — | $25,000 |
| 31 | University at Albany Albany, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,276 | 34 | 61% | — | $25,856 |
| 32 | Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,147 | 37 | 51% | — | $24,744 |
| 33 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,875 | 40 | 63% | — | $24,250 |
| 34 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,451 | 139 | 85% | — | $21,158 |
| 35 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,387 | 57 | 75% | — | $23,750 |
| 36 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,313 | 46 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 37 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,213 | 178 | 83% | — | $19,500 |
| 38 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,197 | 92 | 83% | — | $15,805 |
| 39 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,071 | 77 | 85% | — | $20,154 |
| 40 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,034 | 163 | 85% | — | $21,500 |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,009 | 74 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 42 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,659 | 45 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 43 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,641 | 41 | 86% | $25,074 | $25,484 |
| 44 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,496 | 13 | 67% | — | $25,000 |
| 45 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,369 | 118 | 85% | — | $15,389 |
| 46 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,369 | 4 | 65% | — | $15,389 |
| 47 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,140 | 74 | 89% | — | $21,238 |
| 48 | California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,131 | 18 | 51% | — | $21,375 |
| 49 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,799 | 33 | 80% | — | $25,332 |
| 50 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,513 | 94 | 86% | — | $26,497 |
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates with a degree in Chemistry can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 6,300 annual job openings. The median wage for chemistry professionals is around $84,150, and a typical entry-level position requires a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Chemistry
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 40.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 40.05 (Chemistry) maps to 14 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 15-1221 | Computer and Information Research Scientists |
| 15-1299 | Computer Occupations, All Other |
| 15-2051 | Data Scientists |
| 19-2031 | Chemistsprimary |
| 19-2041 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health |
| 19-4013 | Food Science Technicians |
| 19-4031 | Chemical Technicians |
| 19-4042 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health |
| 19-4092 | Forensic Science Technicians |
| 25-1052 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1053 | Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1054 | Physics Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Chemistry programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
- Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
- Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Conduct quality control tests.
- Write technical papers or reports or prepare standards and specifications for processes, facilities, products, or tests.
- Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
Concentrations within Chemistry
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Chemistry, GeneralCIP 40.0501
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical descri
- Analytical ChemistryCIP 40.0502
A program that focuses on the scientific study of techniques for analyzing and describing matter, including its precise composition and the interrelationships of constituent elements and compounds
- Inorganic ChemistryCIP 40.0503
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the elements and their compounds, other than the hydrocarbons and their derivatives
- Organic ChemistryCIP 40.0504
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the properties and behavior of hydrocarbon compounds and their derivatives
- Physical ChemistryCIP 40.0506
A program that focuses on the scientific study of understanding and predicting the behavior of chemical systems ranging from nuclear particles to atoms, molecules, clusters, biological materials and m
- Polymer ChemistryCIP 40.0507
A program that focuses on the scientific study of synthesized macromolecules and their interactions with other substances
- Chemical PhysicsCIP 40.0508
A program that focuses on the scientific study of structural phenomena combining the disciplines of physical chemistry and atomic/molecular physics
- Environmental ChemistryCIP 40.0509
A program that focuses on the scientific study of natural systems (air, water, and soil) through the use of chemical techniques and instrumentation, with an emphasis on the movement and fate of pollut
- Forensic ChemistryCIP 40.0510
A program that focuses on the application of chemical techniques and instrumentation to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence to aid in criminal investigations
- Theoretical ChemistryCIP 40.0511
A program that focuses on the study of mathematical and computational methods and fundamental laws of physics to describe chemical phenomena and to develop empirical models of molecules and their inte
- Cheminformatics/Chemistry InformaticsCIP 40.0512
A program that focuses on applying computer science approaches in the representation, analysis, design, and modeling of chemical structures and associated metadata, such as biological activity endpoin
- Chemistry, OtherCIP 40.0599
Any instructional program in chemistry not listed above.
Common questions
What can I do with a degree in Chemistry?+
Graduates can pursue careers in research, pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and quality control.
What specializations are available in Chemistry?+
Specializations include Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You'll develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for Chemistry graduates?+
The job outlook is about 4.9% growth with a median wage of $84,150.
How much do Chemistry graduates earn?+
Chemistry graduates report median earnings of $42,475 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Chemists occupation pays about $100,450 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Chemistry?+
Chemistry maps to CIP 40.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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