by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a chemistry degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find where chemistry graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send chemistry graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid chemistry graduates in the Southeast Region. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College typically earn about $79,995 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in chemistry will find them at Wake Forest University, which ranked #2. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Chemistry graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of about $74,850 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Clemson University earned it the #3 place for chemistry. Clemson University is a public school located in the suburb of Clemson. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Clemson University typically earn about $66,215 annually.
University Of Kentucky came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. University Of Kentucky is a public school located in the city of Lexington. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,235.
Strong graduate earnings at East Tennessee State University earned it the #5 place for chemistry. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from East Tennessee State University make a median of around $63,871 per year.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Early-career chemistry graduates from Arkansas State University Main Campus make a median of around $63,165 per year.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #7 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Early-career chemistry graduates from Northern Kentucky University make a median of around $63,085 per year.
University Of North Alabama came in at #8 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. University Of North Alabama is a public school located in the city of Florence. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,484.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #9 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,440.
East Carolina University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from East Carolina University typically earn about $67,259 annually.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $70,473 a year early in their careers.
Western Kentucky University came in at #12 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,012.
Xavier University Of Louisiana ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Xavier University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,002.
Winthrop University came in at #14 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of about $54,919 a year early in their careers.
George Mason University landed the #15 spot for chemistry salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $60,676 annually.
Eastern Kentucky University earned the #16 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school located in the town of Richmond. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University typically earn about $82,608 annually.
College Of William And Mary ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,208.
University Of Memphis came in at #18 for chemistry graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Memphis typically earn about $74,721 annually.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #19 position for chemistry graduate earnings this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,138.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #20 spot for chemistry salaries this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public institution. After graduating, chemistry degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington typically earn about $61,124 annually.
Kennesaw State University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for chemistry. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a public institution. Chemistry graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of about $68,353 a year early in their careers.
Jacksonville State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Jacksonville State University is a public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Early-career chemistry graduates from Jacksonville State University make a median of around $50,599 per year.
West Virginia University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Chemistry graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $71,142 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public school located in the city of Beckley. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,142.
Florida State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying chemistry schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. Students who complete the chemistry program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,894.
These schools also send chemistry graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries chemistry graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 65 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.
