Best colleges for Chemistry in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
George Mason University, James Madison University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the top bachelor's Chemistry programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. George Mason University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,304, College Scorecard. University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia Commonwealth University award the most Chemistry degrees in Virginia: 172, 94 and 80 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Virginia colleges offer Chemistry and award 625 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 9 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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,304 | 24 | 68% | — | $24,250 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,799 | 33 | 80% | — | $25,332 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,513 | 94 | 86% | — | $26,497 |
| 4 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,245 | 21 | 72% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,571 | 80 | 63% | — | $21,872 |
| 6 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,130 | 65 | 89% | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,599 | 172 | 96% | — | $19,425 |
| 8 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,090 | 13 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 9 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,881 | 10 | 85% | $24,049 | $23,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Chemistry degrees in Virginia
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 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 172 | $30,599 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 94 | $45,513 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 80 | $38,571 |
| 4 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 65 | $35,130 |
| 5 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 33 | $45,799 |
| 6 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 24 | $50,304 |
| 7 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 21 | $39,245 |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 10 | Radford University Radford Public | 13 | $39,090 |
ShowHide the other 21 Virginia colleges offering Chemistry
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 6 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 6 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Public | 5 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 3 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Chemists (SOC 19-2031).
Top skills
What Chemists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Chemistry programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Chemistry degrees?+
University of Virginia (172 graduates a year), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (94 graduates a year) and Virginia Commonwealth University (80 graduates a year) award the most Chemistry degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Virginia colleges offer Chemistry.
What is the best college for Chemistry in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, George Mason University leads among bachelor's Chemistry programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,304, College Scorecard. James Madison University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Virginia is the largest, with 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Chemistry program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, George Mason University tops the list at $50,304. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Chemists earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Chemists in Virginia is $104,120 (median $96,650), across about 1,640 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.
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