Best institutions to study Analytical Chemistry
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.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 38 Analytical Chemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0502, a specialization of Chemistry (CIP 40.05), and leads most directly to the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2031).
About Analytical Chemistry programs
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. Includes instruction in spectroscopy, chromatography, atomic absorption, photometry, chemical modeling, mathematical analysis, laboratory analysis procedures and equipment maintenance, and applications to specific research, industrial and health problems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Analytical Chemistry program focuses on the scientific study of techniques used to analyze and describe matter, including its composition and the relationships between elements and compounds. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the methods and applications of chemical analysis in various fields, such as research, industry, and health.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in spectroscopy, chromatography, and laboratory analysis procedures. Core skills developed include critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication, preparing graduates for various analytical tasks in the field of chemistry.
Credentials awarded
What Analytical Chemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree18 graduates / yr · 3 institutions47%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship7 graduates / yr · 1 institution18%
- Bachelor's degree6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions16%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions11%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 1 institution7.9%
Graduates over time
Analytical Chemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 46 |
| 2013 | 57 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 47 |
| 2019 | 35 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 28 |
| 2023 | 40 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2025 | 38 |
Top 8 institutions for Analytical Chemistry, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 8 | 75% | — | $43,870 |
| 3 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 71% | — | — |
| 4 | Governors State University University Park, ILPublicMaster's | 3 | 22% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Toledo Toledo, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 57% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 67% | — | — |
| 7 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 87% | $34,827 | — |
| 8 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 40% | $24,126 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Chemistry field (CIP 40.05) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Analytical Chemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Chemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 | 17 | Illinois Institute of Technology14 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 8 | Iowa State University8 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania5 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 4 | University of Toledo3 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln2 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 2 | Stevens Institute of Technology2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Analytical Chemistry program can pursue careers as chemists, natural sciences managers, or chemical technicians. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 6,300 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $84,150, typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0502
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemistsprimary SOC 19-2031 | $91,240 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~6,300 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Chemical Technicians SOC 19-4031 | $60,390 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~6,700 | Associate's degree |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1052 | $93,250 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Analytical Chemistry programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Chemistry specializations
The 11 other 6-digit CIP codes under Chemistry (CIP 40.05).
- ChemistryCIP 40.050118,075 graduates / yr1,168 institutions
- ChemistryCIP 40.0599551 graduates / yr58 institutions
- Forensic ChemistryCIP 40.0510353 graduates / yr30 institutions
- Polymer ChemistryCIP 40.0507partial data72 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Chemical PhysicsCIP 40.050842 graduates / yr13 institutions
- Environmental ChemistryCIP 40.050919 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Organic ChemistryCIP 40.0504limited data9 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Physical ChemistryCIP 40.0506partial data9 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Theoretical ChemistryCIP 40.0511partial data9 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Inorganic ChemistryCIP 40.0503limited data4 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Cheminformatics/
Chemistry Informatics40.0512
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Analytical Chemistry.
What skills will I develop?+
You'll develop skills in science, critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a chemist, chemical technician, or in other related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9%.
What is the CIP code for Analytical Chemistry?+
Analytical Chemistry is CIP 40.0502 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Chemistry (CIP 40.05). NCES defines it as: 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. Includes instruction in spectroscopy, chromatography, atomic absorption, photometry, chemical modeling, mathematical analysis, laboratory analysis procedures and equipment maintenance, and applications to specific research, industrial and health problems.
How many institutions offer Analytical Chemistry programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Analytical Chemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 38 credentials in the year. That is 0.2% of all Chemistry graduates.
How much do Analytical Chemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemists occupation, which Analytical Chemistry most directly leads to, pays a median of $91,240 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Chemistry field report median earnings of $43,870 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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