by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,185 U.S. colleges awarded 18,718 degrees and certificates in General Chemistry. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 64% of graduates. College Factual ranks 395 schools in its 2027 Best General 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.
A degree in General Chemistry explores Chemistry, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Composition And Behavior Of Matter, Including Its Micro- And Macro-Structure, The Processes Of Chemical Change, And The Theoretical Description And Laboratory Simulation Of These Phenomena.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general chemistry is a popular field of study, with 18,718 degrees awarded annually. 1,185 colleges award general chemistry degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 236.
By level, the 18,718 awards include 14 certificates, 1,048 associate degrees, 11,995 bachelor’s degrees, 2,830 master’s degrees and 2,831 doctorates.
Women earned 53% of general chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,908 of 18,718). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9,025) and Hispanic or Latino (2,547), and international students earned 2,660.
College Factual ranks 395 schools in its 2027 Best General Chemistry Schools ranking, including 349 for bachelor’s degrees, 76 for master’s degrees and 107 for doctorates. It also ranks general chemistry schools within 45 states. In all, 1,185 colleges offer general chemistry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Chemistry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general chemistry credential is the bachelor’s degree: 11,995 of the 18,718 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
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How long a general chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 14 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,048 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11,995 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,830 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,831 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general chemistry, at 48.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.2% |
| Master’s degree | 13.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to General Chemistry, with an average median salary of $97,365; the strongest outlook belongs to Chemical Technicians, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager and Band Teacher.
The occupation related to general chemistry with the most projected jobs is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, at 571,954.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Chemical Technicians | 136,017 | 11.6% |
| Food Science Technicians | 135,157 | 7.3% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
General 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 general chemistry is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Food Science Technicians | $100,898 |
| Forensic Science Technicians | $85,117 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemical Technicians | $60,181 |
General Chemistry has 10 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 1,143 degrees a year; the largest are Chemistry, Other (574), Forensic Chemistry (363) and Polymer Chemistry (72). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
