2027 Best Chemistry Schools in Illinois
Chemistry is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best chemistry schools.
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Best Schools for Chemistry in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall chemistry education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Chemistry
Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 school for chemistry. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 153 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the chemistry program at University Of Chicago
A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for chemistry. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 60 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $90,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Bradley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bradley University awarded about 13 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Bradley University earn around $54,513 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,380.
See the full chemistry program report for Bradley University
Students looking for a strong chemistry program will find one at Illinois Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,315 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemistry program at Illinois Institute Of Technology
Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 25 chemistry degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
See the full chemistry program report for Loyola University Chicago
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 163 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $74,138 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #7 spot for chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn around $46,659 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #8 spot for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 60 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,474 in student loans.
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Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best chemistry schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. Northern Illinois University awarded about 33 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $43,061 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,023.
See the full chemistry program report for Northern Illinois University
Illinois State University earned the #10 position for chemistry this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 21 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Illinois State University
Western Illinois University placed #11 among the best chemistry schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 chemistry degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $31,980 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 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.
