2026 Best General Chemistry Schools in Iowa
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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general chemistry students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Chemistry in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general chemistry education in Iowa.
Top Schools in General Chemistry
Drake University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general chemistry. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 10 general chemistry degrees were awarded at Drake University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $56,228 in their early career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
See the full general chemistry program report for Drake University
Grinnell College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. Grinnell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Grinnell. Grinnell College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 general chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Grinnell College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general chemistry program make about $38,888 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,154 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general chemistry program at Grinnell College
University Of Iowa came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general chemistry schools. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 general chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their general chemistry degree from University Of Iowa earn around $44,847 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,956 to complete this degree.
Get the full general chemistry details for University Of Iowa
Iowa State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general chemistry, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. Iowa State University awarded about 48 general chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general chemistry degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $57,326. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full general chemistry details for Iowa State University
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 · 33 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.
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