General Chemistry programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general chemistry programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1371 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general chemistry students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great General Chemistry School
The general chemistry program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best General Chemistry Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Chemistry Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for General Chemistry in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for general chemistry. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 53 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from Stanford University
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from University Of Southern California
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the top schools for general chemistry. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 116 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong general chemistry program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #4. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $90,302. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from Northwestern University
A rank of #5 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for general chemistry. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 52 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rice University earned the #6 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 62 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree.
See the full general chemistry program report for Rice University
Dartmouth College placed #7 among the best general chemistry schools. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 21 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 108 general chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. General Chemistry graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from University Of Pennsylvania
Washington University In St Louis came in at #9 for general chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,360 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 96 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
See the full general chemistry program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Vanderbilt University earned the #11 position for general chemistry this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 44 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. General Chemistry graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #12 among the best general chemistry schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 81 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
See the full general chemistry program report for Harvard University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #13 position for general chemistry this year. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 65 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 207 general chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their general 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.
Read more about the general chemistry program at University Of California Berkeley
Tufts University came in at #15 for general chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 46 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
See the full general chemistry program report for Tufts University
Marquette University earned the #16 position for general chemistry this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 22 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. General Chemistry graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,122.
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Brown University earned the #17 position for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 44 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. General Chemistry graduates of Brown University earn a median of $62,820 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from Brown University
Princeton University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 100 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
See the full general chemistry program report for Princeton University
Amherst College came in at #19 for general chemistry this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 20 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Amherst College earn around $59,271 in the first couple years of their career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from Amherst College
Drake University landed the #20 spot for general chemistry this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of Drake University earn a median of $56,228 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
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Davidson College placed #21 among the best general chemistry schools. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 24 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $41,505 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #22 position for general chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 27 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $61,010 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,259 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general chemistry from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Boston College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. Boston College awarded about 30 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $66,132 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Colby College landed the #24 spot for general chemistry this year. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Colby College awarded about 23 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Colby College generally make around $46,772. Colby College graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans.
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Bucknell University came in at #25 for general chemistry this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Bucknell University awarded about 14 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $64,331 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,951.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Chemistry Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general chemistry ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1371 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).
