Best institutions to study Chemistry
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 description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
1,168 U.S. institutions graduated 18,075 Chemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0501, a specialization of Chemistry (CIP 40.05), and leads most directly to the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2031).
About Chemistry programs
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 description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
See also: 14.0701 - Chemical Engineering.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Chemistry program, also known as Chemistry, General, focuses on the scientific study of matter's composition and behavior. It explores both the micro- and macro-structure of substances, chemical change processes, and the theoretical and laboratory simulations of these phenomena. This program is ideal for students interested in the physical sciences and those looking to pursue a career in various chemistry-related fields.
Students in this program will develop essential skills in science, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically covers topics such as organic and inorganic chemistry, analytical methods, and quality control techniques, equipping graduates with the knowledge necessary for careers in chemistry and related disciplines.
Credentials awarded
What Chemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree11,361 graduates / yr · 993 institutions63%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2,831 graduates / yr · 184 institutions16%
- Master's degree2,667 graduates / yr · 278 institutions15%
- Associate's degree1,046 graduates / yr · 167 institutions5.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year127 graduates / yr · 10 institutions0.7%
- Post-master's certificate21 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.1%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years14 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate8 graduates / yr · 6 institutions0.0%
Graduates over time
Chemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 18,497 |
| 2013 | 18,818 |
| 2014 | 19,716 |
| 2015 | 19,839 |
| 2016 | 20,129 |
| 2017 | 20,720 |
| 2018 | 20,567 |
| 2019 | 20,392 |
| 2020 | 20,066 |
| 2021 | 19,356 |
| 2022 | 19,159 |
| 2023 | 18,163 |
| 2024 | 17,707 |
| 2025 | 18,075 |
Top 50 institutions for 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 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 234 | 93% | — | $59,576 |
| 2 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 227 | 88% | — | $42,698 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 222 | 91% | — | $25,418 |
| 4 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 192 | 87% | — | $43,766 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 188 | 90% | — | $48,886 |
| 6 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 178 | 83% | — | $47,213 |
| 7 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 172 | 96% | — | $30,599 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 163 | 85% | — | $47,034 |
| 9 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 156 | 84% | — | $49,462 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 155 | 91% | — | $32,516 |
| 11 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 153 | 89% | — | $43,383 |
| 12 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 150 | 93% | — | — |
| 13 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 147 | 86% | — | $45,310 |
| 14 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 142 | 93% | — | $42,358 |
| 15 | Emory University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 139 | 91% | $20,586 | $32,130 |
| 16 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 139 | 85% | — | $47,451 |
| 17 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 138 | 65% | — | $43,349 |
| 18 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 131 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 19 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 118 | 85% | — | $46,369 |
| 20 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 108 | 88% | $29,023 | $37,249 |
| 21 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 107 | 76% | — | $31,685 |
| 22 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 103 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 23 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 97 | 80% | — | $42,889 |
| 24 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 97 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 25 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 97 | 97% | $22,055 | — |
| 26 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 96 | 95% | $17,613 | $28,372 |
| 27 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 94 | 72% | — | — |
| 28 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 94 | 86% | — | $45,513 |
| 29 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 92 | 53% | — | $33,836 |
| 30 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 92 | 85% | — | $43,571 |
| 31 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 90 | 73% | — | — |
| 32 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 83 | 77% | — | $29,399 |
| 33 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 82 | 76% | — | $39,676 |
| 34 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 82 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 35 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 81 | 83% | — | $47,197 |
| 36 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 80 | 86% | — | $42,204 |
| 37 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 80 | 55% | — | $39,725 |
| 38 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 80 | 75% | — | $31,419 |
| 39 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 80 | 63% | — | $38,571 |
| 40 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 77 | 74% | — | $28,660 |
| 41 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 77 | 86% | — | $40,629 |
| 42 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 77 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 43 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 77 | 57% | — | $29,340 |
| 44 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 77 | 85% | — | $47,071 |
| 45 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 76 | 58% | — | $35,813 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 74 | 86% | — | $47,009 |
| 47 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 73 | 75% | — | $44,847 |
| 48 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 70 | 96% | $11,666 | — |
| 49 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 69 | 89% | — | $46,140 |
| 50 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 68 | 71% | — | $34,872 |
* 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 54 states & territories
Where Chemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Chemistry programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Chemistry program can pursue careers as chemists, secondary school teachers, or chemical technicians, among others. The job outlook for chemists is about as fast as average, with an estimated growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 6,300 annual openings. The median wage for chemists is $84,150, typically requiring a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0501
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 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | 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 |
Food Science Technicians SOC 19-4013 | $52,130 | +4.8% About as fast as average | ~3,200 | Associate's degree |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 | $72,060 | +12.8% Much faster than average | ~2,900 | Bachelor'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 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 40.0599551 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
- Analytical ChemistryCIP 40.0502partial data38 graduates / yr8 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 degree can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or Associate's degree in Chemistry.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, mathematics, and technical writing.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Chemistry?+
You can work as a chemist, chemical technician, or secondary school teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for chemists?+
The job outlook for chemists is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9%.
What is the CIP code for Chemistry?+
Chemistry is CIP 40.0501 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Chemistry (CIP 40.05). NCES defines it as: 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 description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
How many institutions offer Chemistry programs?+
1,168 U.S. institutions reported Chemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 54 states & territories, awarding 18,075 credentials in the year. That is 94.2% of all Chemistry graduates.
How much do Chemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemists occupation, which 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 $42,482 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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Chemistry graduates, so its figures match the Chemistry program page.
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