Best Schools for Chemistry in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemistry education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Chemistry
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 school for chemistry. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 53 chemistry degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #2. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 47 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
See the full chemistry program report for University Of Southern California
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 52 chemistry degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of California Berkeley is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 207 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $83,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,172.
See the full chemistry program report for University Of California Berkeley
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 36 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $61,010 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,259 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #6 position for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 106 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $47,197 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,805 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis landed the #7 spot for chemistry this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 114 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of California Davis earn around $56,763 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Irvine earned the #8 position for chemistry this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 186 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $63,601 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,276.
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Pomona College landed the #9 spot for chemistry this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pomona College awarded about 10 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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University Of California Los Angeles earned the #10 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 167 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $64,111. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,137 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University came in at #11 for chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $51,140. Typical student debt for the program is $18,031.
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University Of Portland landed the #12 spot for chemistry this year. University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Portland awarded about 11 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Portland generally make around $54,739. Students borrow a median of $22,900 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #13 position for chemistry this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. About 30 chemistry degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $45,076. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $18,675 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge earned the #14 position for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 28 chemistry degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $44,874. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202.
See the full chemistry program report for California State University Northridge
California State University East Bay came in at #15 for chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. About 21 chemistry degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $58,951 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,073.
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Westmont College landed the #16 spot for chemistry this year. Westmont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 chemistry degrees were awarded at Westmont College in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Westmont College earn around $44,240 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,773.
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University Of San Francisco ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. University Of San Francisco awarded about 17 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $65,223 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full chemistry program report for University Of San Francisco
California State University Long Beach earned the #18 position for chemistry this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,553. Students borrow a median of $15,680 to complete this degree.
See the full chemistry program report for California State University Long Beach
Western Washington University earned the #19 position for chemistry this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $48,527 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,104 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #20 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 251 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $69,229 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,100.
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San Francisco State University placed #21 among the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 22 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $44,140 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
See the full chemistry program report for San Francisco State University
California State University Los Angeles earned the #22 position for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 33 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $44,944 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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California Baptist University placed #23 among the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 21 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans.
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San Diego State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 62 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $43,603 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $17,499 in student loans.
See the full chemistry program report for San Diego State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #25 for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 17 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $48,181 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,577.
More information about a degree in chemistry from University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Rest of the Top 50 Chemistry Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s chemistry ranking:
Narrow Chemistry Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 184 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
