Best institutions to study Physical Chemistry
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 macroscopic assemblies.
4 U.S. institutions graduated 9 Physical Chemistry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0506, a specialization of Chemistry (CIP 40.05), and leads most directly to the Chemists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2031).
About Physical Chemistry programs
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 macroscopic assemblies. Includes instruction in quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, reaction dynamics, group theory, collision theory, and polymer science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Physical Chemistry program, a subset of the Chemistry field, delves into the scientific study of chemical systems, ranging from nuclear particles to macroscopic assemblies. This program is designed for students interested in understanding and predicting chemical behaviors through advanced concepts in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and more.
Students will acquire core skills in science, mathematics, and critical thinking, along with knowledge in chemistry, English language, and analytical techniques. Coursework typically includes topics such as spectroscopy, statistical mechanics, and reaction dynamics, preparing graduates for various scientific challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Physical Chemistry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions67%
- Bachelor's degree2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions22%
- Master's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
Graduates over time
Physical Chemistry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Top 4 institutions for Physical 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 Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras San Juan, PRPublicDoctoral | 4 | 50% | — | — |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | $43,870 |
| 3 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 4 | LeTourneau University Longview, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $24,186 | — |
* 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 4 states & territories
Where Physical Chemistry graduates come from. Each state links to all Chemistry programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 4 | University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras4 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 3 | Iowa State University3 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 1 | Dartmouth College1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | LeTourneau University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2031, Chemists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physical Chemistry program can pursue careers as chemists, natural sciences managers, or postsecondary chemistry teachers. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of about 4.9% and approximately 6,300 annual openings. The median wage for chemists is around $84,150, typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0506
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 |
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 Physical 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
- Environmental ChemistryCIP 40.050919 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Organic ChemistryCIP 40.0504limited data9 graduates / yr2 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 Physical Chemistry?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Physical Chemistry.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Physical Chemistry?+
You can work as a chemist, natural sciences manager, or chemistry teacher.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is about 4.9% growth with approximately 6,300 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Physical Chemistry?+
Physical Chemistry is CIP 40.0506 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 understanding and predicting the behavior of chemical systems ranging from nuclear particles to atoms, molecules, clusters, biological materials and macroscopic assemblies. Includes instruction in quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, reaction dynamics, group theory, collision theory, and polymer science.
How many institutions offer Physical Chemistry programs?+
4 U.S. institutions reported Physical Chemistry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states & territories, awarding 9 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Chemistry graduates.
How much do Physical Chemistry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Chemists occupation, which Physical 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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