2026 Best General Chemistry Master’s Degree Schools
General Chemistry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1371 schools to find the best for general chemistry students.
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Best Schools for General Chemistry in the United States
Below are the best general chemistry schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in General Chemistry
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for general chemistry. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 48 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $99,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Rice University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 23 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general chemistry, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Students looking for a strong general chemistry program will find one at Tufts University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $68,154 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University landed the #6 spot for general chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 10 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Brown University came in at #7 for general chemistry this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Brown University earn around $62,820 in the first couple years of their career. Brown University graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
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Princeton University landed the #8 spot for general chemistry this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 42 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $67,532 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester landed the #9 spot for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 13 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 32 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $47,451 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,158 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #11 among the best general chemistry schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $64,111 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,137.
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Villanova University came in at #12 for general chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 17 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $77,371. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #13 among the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $78,863 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,043.
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Johns Hopkins University placed #14 among the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 26 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $78,087. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $12,366 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #15 spot for general chemistry this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $63,601 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,276 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Oxford ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,700 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #17 spot for general chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 22 general chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $30,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,425.
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Florida State University placed #18 among the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 47 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Florida State University earn around $69,821 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Sacred Heart University placed #19 among the best general chemistry schools. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 21 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Sacred Heart University in the most recent year. General Chemistry graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #20 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $46,369 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $15,389 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #21 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 10 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $74,138 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #22 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 11 general chemistry degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $50,553 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,680 in student loans.
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Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for general chemistry this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $62,511. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington earned the #24 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 11 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $66,955 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #25 position for general chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 12 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $66,397 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Chemistry Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general chemistry this year:
Other General Chemistry Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare General Chemistry rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1371 schools evaluated.
- 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.