by our College Data Analytics TeamOrganic Chemistry was the 1,349 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 7 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 57.1% reduction in organic chemistry degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 11.
Our 2023 Best Organic Chemistry Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for organic chemistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of organic chemistry programs later in this article.
When studying Organic Chemistry, you’ll learn that understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional organic chemistry certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Organic Chemistry degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in organic chemistry to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the organic chemistry degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to organic chemistry, with approximately 48.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for organic chemistry workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 48.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 9.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.6% |
About 94.1% of workers in careers related to organic chemistry obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in organic chemistry have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the organic chemistry career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your organic chemistry degree? Organic Chemistry careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to organic chemistry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chemists | 94,000 | 6.5% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Chemistry Professors | 28,900 | 9.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for organic chemistry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for organic chemistry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers organic chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Chemistry Professors | $92,360 |
| Chemists | $83,850 |
With over 7 different organic chemistry degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased organic chemistry school rankings to help you with this.
One of 11 majors within the Chemistry area of study, Organic Chemistry has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | 20,056 |
| Other Chemistry | 710 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 247 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 101 |
| Chemical Physics | 45 |
