2027 Best Chemistry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Chemistry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 59 schools to find the best for chemistry students.
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Best Schools for Chemistry in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemistry education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Chemistry
Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in chemistry. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. About 153 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemistry from University Of Chicago
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for chemistry. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 chemistry degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $90,302 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Northwestern University
Bradley University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Bradley University awarded about 13 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Bradley University
Students looking for a strong chemistry program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates 75% of students within six years. About 27 chemistry degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,774.
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Denison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 11 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,360 in student loans.
See the full chemistry program report for Denison University
University Of Detroit Mercy came in at #6 for chemistry this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Detroit. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 11 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Detroit Mercy in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $76,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,053.
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Michigan Technological University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Michigan Technological University graduates 68% of students within six years. Michigan Technological University awarded about 20 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,652 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,800 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #8 among the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 164 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $85,454 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
See the full chemistry program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Notre Dame ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 50 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $84,652 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #10 spot for chemistry this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 chemistry degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Saint Marys College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at Saint Marys College in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Saint Marys College earn a median of $48,274 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 191 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $78,863. Typical student debt for the program is $26,043.
More information about a degree in chemistry from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #13 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 178 chemistry degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $66,397 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full chemistry program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #14 spot for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 163 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $74,138 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Indiana University Bloomington ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 97 chemistry degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $66,955 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
See the full chemistry program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #16 among the best chemistry schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 227 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $68,086 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,225 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Oxford earned the #17 position for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 51 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $49,700 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $24,177 in student loans.
See the full chemistry program report for Miami University Oxford
Saint Norbert College earned the #18 position for chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of De Pere, Saint Norbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Saint Norbert College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Saint Norbert College generally make around $48,421. Saint Norbert College graduates carry a median of $26,578 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #19 spot for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 57 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $47,387 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree.
See the full chemistry program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Butler University placed #20 among the best chemistry schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 14 chemistry degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $68,222 in their early career. Butler University graduates carry a median of $25,351 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Butler University
Xavier University landed the #21 spot for chemistry this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Xavier University
Ripon College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Ripon. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 15 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Ripon College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Ripon College generally make around $35,385. Typical student debt for the program is $26,973.
See the full chemistry program report for Ripon College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #23 among the best chemistry schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 45 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $46,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #24 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 28 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $49,223 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $23,551 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #25 spot for chemistry this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 33 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $50,659. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Chemistry Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s chemistry ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 59 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.