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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their chemistry graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where chemistry graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose chemistry graduates go on to earn the most.
Northwestern University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools in Illinois. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $161,473.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #2 place for chemistry. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Illinois At Chicago make a median of around $62,220 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $85,716 per year.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville typically earn about $68,130 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for chemistry. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,503.
Western Illinois University came in at #6 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of about $71,894 a year early in their careers.
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 · 6 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.