Best colleges for Chemistry in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and University of Memphis are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,589, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Memphis and Tennessee Technological University award the most Chemistry degrees in Tennessee: 63, 57 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Tennessee colleges offer Chemistry and award 362 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,589 | 63 | 74% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,588 | 24 | 50% | — | $24,999 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,881 | 57 | 51% | — | $20,000 |
| 4 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,475 | 12 | 40% | — | $20,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 63 | $41,589 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 57 | $36,881 |
| 3 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 4 | Rhodes College Memphis Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 5 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 6 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 24 | $41,588 |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 12 | $42,475 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Tennessee colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 7 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | 4 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| The University of the South | Sewanee | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (63 graduates a year), University of Memphis (57 graduates a year) and Tennessee Technological University (44 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Tennessee colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,589, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and University of Memphis follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $41,589. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in Tennessee is $88,400 (median $87,930), across about 960 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Chemistry program?+
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…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Chemists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 6,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card