by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their chemistry graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send chemistry graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Carnegie Mellon University the top school for chemistry graduate earnings in the United States. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Early-career chemistry graduates from Carnegie Mellon University make a median of around $92,818 per year.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Massachusetts Amherst make a median of around $85,801 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #3 place for chemistry. University Of Colorado Denver is a public school located in the city of Denver. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Colorado Denver make a median of around $85,398 per year.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey produces some of the highest-paid graduates in chemistry, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,306.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus typically earn about $82,691 annually.
Lindenwood University came in at #6 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,526.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #7 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College make a median of around $79,995 per year.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #8 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor make a median of around $75,792 per year.
Northeastern University earned the #9 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from Northeastern University make a median of around $95,388 per year.
Wake Forest University earned the #10 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,850.
Indiana State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Indiana State University typically earn about $73,702 annually.
Butler University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Butler University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Chemistry graduates of Butler University earn a median of about $73,619 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Geneseo earned the #13 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Geneseo, Suny At Geneseo is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Suny At Geneseo earn a median of about $70,829 a year early in their careers.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #14 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. Chemistry graduates of East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $70,629 a year early in their careers.
Wright State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Early-career chemistry graduates from Wright State University Main Campus make a median of around $70,096 per year.
Worcester State University earned the #16 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,948.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #17 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse make a median of around $69,147 per year.
Le Moyne College earned the #18 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Le Moyne College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Le Moyne College typically earn about $68,501 annually.
Baylor University came in at #19 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Baylor University typically earn about $68,294 annually.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #20 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $68,270 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Washington University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of about $67,089 a year early in their careers.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey make a median of around $66,593 per year.
Bridgewater State University landed the #23 spot for chemistry salaries this year. Bridgewater State University is a public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Chemistry graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of about $82,869 a year early in their careers.
Clemson University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,215.
Boise State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Boise State University typically earn about $66,112 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid chemistry ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Chemistry rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their chemistry graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
