by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,203 U.S. colleges awarded 19,861 degrees and certificates in Chemistry. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 65% of graduates. College Factual ranks 409 schools in its 2027 Best Chemistry Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing, rising to $74,187 after four years.
If you are curious about the building blocks of life and matter, a major in Chemistry might be for you. In this major, you will learn everything about matter including the atoms that make it up, how it behaves when manipulated, and reactions it has to other matter. You will take classes in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and biochemistry, and many others in order to be introduced to the many practical uses for chemistry.
Chemistry is a large field and offers many specializations. You may have the option to choose a concentration in Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Theoretical Chemistry. These areas of specialization open up a variety of career choices to students.
Studying Chemistry explores Chemistry.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, chemistry is a widely-pursued major, with 19,861 degrees awarded annually. 1,203 colleges award chemistry degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 236.
By level, the 19,861 awards include 16 certificates, 1,058 associate degrees, 12,863 bachelor’s degrees, 2,975 master’s degrees and 2,949 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (10,595 of 19,861). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9,577) and Hispanic or Latino (2,730), and international students earned 2,800.
College Factual ranks 409 schools in its 2027 Best Chemistry Schools ranking, including 367 for bachelor’s degrees, 81 for master’s degrees and 113 for doctorates. It also ranks chemistry schools within 45 states. In all, 1,203 colleges offer chemistry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Chemistry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common chemistry credential is the bachelor’s degree: 12,863 of the 19,861 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Students should have a strong background in science and math. You will be required to use and memorize a variety of formulas when conducting experiments. Strong critical thinking and analytical skills will help you look at data and draw conclusions. Problem solving skills will help you use this data to solve issues. You will also be required to give presentations or write articles about your findings.
Both your undergrad work and most future careers will involve a lot of time spent in a lab performing experiments and recording data. Experience in this field is helpful when you are looking for a job after graduation. You can gain this experience by working in research labs on your campus while working towards to undergraduate degree, through internship, or through fellowships.
A bachelor's degree will allow you to work as a chemist, but you must obtain a master's or Ph.D. if you wish to conduct research or lead experiments. Typically, you will specialize in a certain aspect of chemistry when you earn an advanced degree.
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How long a chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,058 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12,863 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,975 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,949 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to chemistry, at 39.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 39.9% |
| Master’s degree | 16.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Chemistry, with an average median salary of $99,048; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Data Coordinator.
Chemists work in a variety of locations from research and development labs to medical manufacturing. Graduates have been hired by manufacturers to develop new materials, private industries to perform tests for pharmaceuticals, and by companies to monitor environmental conditions. You will be able to employ your strong understanding of chemistry concepts to any number of industries.
The occupation related to chemistry with the most projected jobs is Business Intelligence Analysts, at 585,851.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | 576,059 | -1.9% |
| Information Security Engineers | 575,902 | -3.8% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Blockchain Engineers | 556,747 | 5.1% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | 543,383 | -3.4% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians | 530,023 | -1.9% |
Chemistry graduates earn a median $46,311 one year after completing their program, $74,187 after four years and $72,061 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,311 |
| 4 years | $74,187 |
| 5 years | $72,061 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to chemistry is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $159,837 |
| Document Management Specialists | $147,490 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Information Security Engineers | $142,543 |
| Computer Systems Engineers/Architects | $140,795 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $124,655 |
Chemistry includes 11 concentrations that together award 19,861 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Chemistry, General (18,718), Chemistry, Other (574) and Forensic Chemistry (363). It has 8 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 28,842 degrees a year; the largest are Physics (13,929), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences (7,713) and Physical Sciences, General (2,991). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, General | 18,718 |
| Chemistry, Other | 574 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 363 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 72 |
| Chemical Physics | 44 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 38 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 21 |
| Organic Chemistry | 9 |
| Physical Chemistry | 9 |
| Theoretical Chemistry | 9 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics | 13,929 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 7,713 |
| Physical Sciences, General | 2,991 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 1,749 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 1,297 |
| Materials Sciences | 633 |
| Physical Sciences, Other | 469 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 61 |
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