Chemistry programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1380 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for chemistry students pursuing a degree.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for chemistry. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 24 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $99,682 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
More information about a degree in chemistry from University Of Pennsylvania
Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 19 chemistry degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Stanford University
Students looking for a strong chemistry program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 19 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
Read more about the chemistry program at University Of Southern California
A rank of #4 makes Rice University one of the top schools for chemistry. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
Get the full chemistry details for Rice University
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 20 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemistry program at Vanderbilt University
Northwestern University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 14 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Northwestern University earn around $90,302 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
See the full chemistry program report for Northwestern University
Washington University In St Louis ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,360.
Read more about the chemistry program at Washington University In St Louis
San Jose State University came in at #8 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 42 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the chemistry program at San Jose State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 57 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
See the full chemistry program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Harvard University earned the #10 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 48 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Harvard University earn around $95,207 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the chemistry program at Harvard University
Brown University came in at #11 for chemistry this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. About 96% of students finish within six years. Brown University awarded about 18 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. Typical student debt for the program is $13,025.
Read more about the chemistry program at Brown University
Dartmouth College earned the #12 position for chemistry this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Dartmouth College earn around $81,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete this degree.
Get the full chemistry details for Dartmouth College
Tufts University came in at #13 for chemistry this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 23 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Tufts University earn around $68,154 in the first couple years of their career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $17,074 in student loans.
Read more about the chemistry program at Tufts University
Princeton University came in at #14 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
Get the full chemistry details for Princeton University
University Of California Berkeley earned the #15 position for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 133 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $59,576 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,172 to complete this degree.
Get the full chemistry details for University Of California Berkeley
Marquette University came in at #16 for chemistry this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemistry program at Marquette University
University Of Chicago ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 51 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the chemistry program at University Of Chicago
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #18 position for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $96,201. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in chemistry from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Rochester came in at #19 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 23 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Rochester in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $60,865 in their early career. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans.
Get the full chemistry details for University Of Rochester
Amherst College came in at #20 for chemistry this year. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $59,271. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398.
See the full chemistry program report for Amherst College
Drake University came in at #21 for 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 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Drake University earn around $56,228 in the first couple years of their career. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
See the full chemistry program report for Drake University
Davidson College earned the #22 position for chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 24 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Davidson College earn around $41,505 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemistry program at Davidson College
University Of Notre Dame placed #23 among the best chemistry schools. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 18 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $84,652 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans.
Get the full chemistry details for University Of Notre Dame
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #24 position for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 38 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $85,454 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the chemistry program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #25 for chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 48 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $46,140 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,238 to complete this degree.
Get the full chemistry details for University Of Maryland College Park
Rest of the Top 50 Chemistry Schools
These schools also placed among the best for chemistry this year:
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 · 1380 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).
