2027 Best Value General Chemistry Master’s Degree Schools
[General Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 81 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general chemistry schools.
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2027 Best Value General Chemistry Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Chemistry Schools
Princeton University tops our 2027 list of the best value general chemistry schools in the United States. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general chemistry schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $18,675 in student loans. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $45,076. That is a strong return on a $18,675 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general chemistry will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #3. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $11,000. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $44,944. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general chemistry will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $22,913. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the best values for general chemistry. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $14,137. General Chemistry graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $64,111 early in their careers. Set against $14,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #6 position for value in general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $51,671. That is a strong return on a $14,250 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #7 for value in general chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $28,660. Set against $15,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Florida State University landed the #8 spot for general chemistry value this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $23,000. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $69,821. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Rice University came in at #9 for value in general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $11,904. General Chemistry graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #10 spot for general chemistry value this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $43,294 early in their careers. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Chicago placed #11 among the best values for general chemistry. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $15,854. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #12 for value in general chemistry this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $60,750 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general chemistry schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $15,389 in student loans. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $46,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine landed the #14 spot for general chemistry value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $13,276 in student loans. Early-career general chemistry graduates make about $63,601. Set against $13,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University earned the #15 position for value in general chemistry this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $25,800. General Chemistry graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,800 median debt. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego came in at #16 for value in general chemistry this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $16,100 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $69,229 early in their careers. Set against $16,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Purdue University Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for general chemistry. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $66,397 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Memphis came in at #18 for value in general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $36,881. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Wayne State University placed #19 among the best values for general chemistry. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $21,590 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $35,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City came in at #20 for value in general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $24,821. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $39,725 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,821 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Western Illinois University placed #21 among the best values for general chemistry. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $31,980. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
San Diego State University landed the #22 spot for general chemistry value this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,499 to complete the general chemistry program here. General Chemistry graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #23 for value in general chemistry this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $21,632. General Chemistry graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $55,304 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #24 position for value in general chemistry this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for general chemistry graduates is $25,000. General Chemistry graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $46,659 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #25 spot for general chemistry value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. General Chemistry graduates carry a median of $21,158 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $47,451. That is a strong return on a $21,158 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Chemistry Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general chemistry this year:
Other General Chemistry Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general chemistry schools at other degree levels:
View All General Chemistry Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 81 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 81 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
