by our College Data Analytics Team
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong chemistry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 137 schools to find the best return on investment for chemistry students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in chemistry, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $12,412. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $44,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $22,913. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin, which ranked #3. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,607, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $60,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $51,252. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at Rice University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $11,904. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
1
2
3
4
5
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Students borrow a median of $19,819 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $48,335 early in their careers. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Lamar University came in at #7 for value in chemistry this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $26,988. Chemistry graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #8 for value in chemistry this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Students borrow a median of $20,835 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $40,700 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Northeastern State University came in at #9 for value in chemistry this year. Set in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $23,465. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $49,353. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern State University admits about 100% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #10 among the best values for chemistry. Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public school located in the town of Commerce. In-state tuition and fees average $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Students borrow a median of $23,796 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $54,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Houston landed the #11 spot for chemistry value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $50,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #12 position for value in chemistry this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $21,885. Chemistry graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $38,766 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,885 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas placed #13 among the best values for chemistry. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $23,151 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $38,006. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #14 spot for chemistry value this year. Located in the town of Weatherford, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,469, while out-of-state students pay about $8,499. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $20,795 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $57,280. That is a strong return on a $20,795 median debt.
Northern Arizona University came in at #15 for value in chemistry this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $21,500. Chemistry graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $40,845 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Prairie View A And M University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Prairie View A And M University is a large public school located in the rural area of Prairie View. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $29,824. Chemistry graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $53,784 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Prairie View A And M University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #17 spot for chemistry value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $43,013. Set against $24,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #18 position for value in chemistry this year. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,968 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $42,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #19 position for value in chemistry this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $20,747 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $48,783 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,747 median debt. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Houston Downtown ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. University Of Houston Downtown is a large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Students borrow a median of $23,925 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $38,954. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #22 spot for chemistry value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $42,897. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #23 spot for chemistry value this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,797, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $31,419 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Blinn College earned the #24 position for value in chemistry this year. Located in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $16,465 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sam Houston State University landed the #25 spot for chemistry value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $28,775 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $43,940. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s chemistry value ranking:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 137 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.