ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Chemistry Schools in Virginia

11 Colleges in the United States
558 General Chemistry Degrees Awarded
$39,771 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Chemistry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general chemistry schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/general-chemistry/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for General Chemistry in Virginia

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.

Top Schools in General Chemistry

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in general chemistry. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 177 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $30,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,425. Get the full general chemistry details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

A rank of #2 makes College Of William And Mary one of the top schools for general chemistry. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $35,130 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the general chemistry program at College Of William And Mary

3

A rank of #3 makes Randolph Macon College one of the top schools for general chemistry. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Randolph Macon College graduates 70% of students within six years. Randolph Macon College awarded about 11 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Randolph Macon College generally make around $40,317. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete this degree. Read more about the general chemistry program at Randolph Macon College

4
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Students looking for a strong general chemistry program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 33 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $45,799 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,332 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general chemistry from James Madison University

5

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 78 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $45,513 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,497 to complete this degree. See the full general chemistry program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

6

George Mason University placed #6 among the best general chemistry schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $50,304. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. Read more about the general chemistry program at George Mason University

7

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot for general chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 114 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. General Chemistry graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $38,571 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,872 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University

8
University Of Mary Washington crest
University Of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

University Of Mary Washington placed #8 among the best general chemistry schools. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. University Of Mary Washington awarded about 11 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $43,243 in their early career. University Of Mary Washington graduates carry a median of $21,739 in student loans. See the full general chemistry program report for University Of Mary Washington

9
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Liberty University earn around $45,877 in the first couple years of their career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. See the full general chemistry program report for Liberty University

10

Christopher Newport University placed #10 among the best general chemistry schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Christopher Newport University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from Christopher Newport University earn around $39,245 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in general chemistry from Christopher Newport University

11
University Of Richmond crest
University Of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA

University Of Richmond ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Richmond awarded about 17 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Richmond earn around $22,881 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000. Get the full general chemistry details for University Of Richmond

ADBLOCK #173
View All General Chemistry Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 35 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options