Chemistry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their chemistry programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 367 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for chemistry students pursuing a degree.
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in chemistry. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 27 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $99,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong chemistry program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 chemistry degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #3. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 11 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #4. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 56 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 17 chemistry degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $77,997 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. Harvard University awarded about 51 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Northwestern University came in at #7 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $90,302 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Tufts University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,074.
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Princeton University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. 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 24 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $67,532 in their early career. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
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Brown University placed #10 among the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 13 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their 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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Dartmouth College earned the #11 position for chemistry this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 11 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $81,992. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #12 for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 154 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $59,576 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,172.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #13 position for chemistry this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 35 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Boston College landed the #15 spot for chemistry this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 15 chemistry degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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University Of Rochester came in at #16 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 26 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Rochester earn around $60,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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University Of Chicago earned the #17 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 55 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $81,002 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 13 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $65,599 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete this degree.
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Amherst College came in at #19 for chemistry this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Amherst. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Amherst College earn around $59,271 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #20 among the best chemistry schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 90% of students within six years. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
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Bowdoin College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 13 chemistry degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $96,201 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
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Johns Hopkins University landed the #23 spot for chemistry this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 39 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $78,087 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,366 to complete this degree.
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Middlebury College came in at #24 for chemistry this year. Set in the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
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Colgate University landed the #25 spot for chemistry this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Chemistry Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong chemistry education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 367 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).