by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 72 degrees and certificates in Polymer Chemistry. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Polymer 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.
Studying Polymer Chemistry involves the study of Polymer Chemistry. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Synthesized Macromolecules And Their Interactions With Other Substances. Includes Instruction In Molecular Bonding Theory, Polymerization, Properties And Behavior Of Unstable Compounds, The Development Of Tailored Polymers, Transition Phenomena, And Applications To Specific Industrial Problems And Technologies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, polymer chemistry is a popular field of study, with 72 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award polymer chemistry degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 20.
By level, the 72 awards include 5 bachelor’s degrees, 38 master’s degrees and 29 doctorates.
Women earned 33% of polymer chemistry degrees and certificates in the latest year (24 of 72). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 42.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Polymer Chemistry Schools ranking, including 1 for master’s degrees. It also ranks polymer chemistry schools within 2 states. In all, 7 colleges offer polymer chemistry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Polymer Chemistry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common polymer chemistry credential is the master’s degree: 38 of the 72 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to polymer chemistry call most for Reading Comprehension, Writing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Chemistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a polymer chemistry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 29 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to polymer chemistry, at 37.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.7% |
| Master’s degree | 19.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.8% |
| Some college courses | 3.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Polymer Chemistry, with an average median salary of $110,432; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Clinical Program Coordinator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to polymer chemistry, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Chemists | 91,666 | 3.1% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Polymer 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 polymer 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 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
| Chemists | $59,779 |
Polymer Chemistry has 10 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 19,789 degrees a year; the largest are Chemistry, General (18,718), Chemistry, Other (574) and Forensic Chemistry (363). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, General | 18,718 |
| Chemistry, Other | 574 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 363 |
| Chemical Physics | 44 |
| Analytical Chemistry | 38 |
| Environmental Chemistry | 21 |
| Organic Chemistry | 9 |
| Physical Chemistry | 9 |
| Theoretical Chemistry | 9 |
| Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
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