Best institutions to study Environmental Chemistry
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 pollutants and chemical aspects of contaminant remediation.
10 U.S. institutions graduated 19 Environmental Chemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0509, a specialization of Chemistry (CIP 40.05), and leads most directly to the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2031).
About Environmental Chemistry programs
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 pollutants and chemical aspects of contaminant remediation. Includes instruction in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; aquatic, soil, and atmospheric chemistry; environmental engineering; environmental toxicology; and analytical methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Environmental Chemistry program focuses on the scientific study of natural systems such as air, water, and soil, utilizing chemical techniques to understand the movement and fate of pollutants. This program is ideal for students interested in addressing environmental challenges through chemistry and aims to prepare graduates for various roles in the field of environmental science.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry, along with specialized topics like aquatic, soil, and atmospheric chemistry. Core skills developed include critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
Credentials awarded
What Environmental Chemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree7 graduates / yr · 5 institutions37%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions26%
- Master's degree4 graduates / yr · 2 institutions21%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.3%
Graduates over time
Environmental Chemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 25 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 19 |
Top 10 institutions for Environmental 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 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MIPublicDoctoral | 4 | 58% | — | — |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster's | 3 | 90% | — | $48,886 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 67% | — | $46,496 |
| 4 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 66% | — | — |
| 5 | Rhode Island College Providence, RIPublicBachelor's | 2 | 48% | — | $44,648 |
| 6 | Beloit College Beloit, WIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 71% | $21,381 | — |
| 7 | University of New Haven West Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 63% | $32,614 | — |
| 8 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 9 | Juniata College Huntingdon, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 74% | $24,867 | — |
| 10 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 69% | $34,648 | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Environmental Chemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Chemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 2 | 6 | Oakland University4 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison3 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 3 | Rhode Island College2 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry2 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 1 | University of New Haven1 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | Illinois Institute of Technology1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Juniata College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Environmental Chemistry program can pursue careers as chemists, environmental scientists, or chemical technicians, among others. The job outlook for related occupations is about as fast as average, with an estimated 6,300 annual openings and a median wage of $84,150, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0509
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 |
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health SOC 19-2041 | $82,220 | +4.4% 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 |
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health SOC 19-4042 | $55,090 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Associate's degree |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1052 | $93,250 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1053 | $94,980 | +2.9% About as fast as average | ~700 | 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 Environmental 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
- Analytical ChemistryCIP 40.0502partial data38 graduates / yr8 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, or a Doctor's degree in Environmental Chemistry.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in science, critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a chemist, environmental scientist, or chemical technician, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 6,300 annual openings and a median wage of $84,150.
What is the CIP code for Environmental Chemistry?+
Environmental Chemistry is CIP 40.0509 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 natural systems (air, water, and soil) through the use of chemical techniques and instrumentation, with an emphasis on the movement and fate of pollutants and chemical aspects of contaminant remediation. Includes instruction in analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry; aquatic, soil, and atmospheric chemistry; environmental engineering; environmental toxicology; and analytical methods.
How many institutions offer Environmental Chemistry programs?+
10 U.S. institutions reported Environmental Chemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 19 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Chemistry graduates.
How much do Environmental Chemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemists occupation, which Environmental 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 $46,496 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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