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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Chemistry Schools in Virginia

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

Chemistry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their chemistry programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools to find the best for chemistry students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for 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 chemistry degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Chemistry

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Virginia Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in chemistry. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 177 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $30,599 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,425. Read more about the chemistry program at University Of Virginia Main Campus

2

College Of William And Mary is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $35,130 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. More information about a degree in chemistry from College Of William And Mary

3

Randolph Macon College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in chemistry, ranking #3. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Randolph Macon College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $40,317 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,432. More information about a degree in chemistry from Randolph Macon College

4
James Madison University crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

A rank of #4 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for chemistry. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $45,799 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,332 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in chemistry from James Madison University

5

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best chemistry schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 78 chemistry degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $45,513 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,497 to complete this degree. Read more about the chemistry program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

6

George Mason University earned the #6 position for chemistry this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $50,304 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,250. More information about a degree in chemistry from George Mason University

7

Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #7 position for chemistry this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $38,571 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,872 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University

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

University Of Mary Washington landed the #8 spot for chemistry this year. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. University Of Mary Washington awarded about 11 chemistry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their chemistry degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $43,243 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,739 to complete this degree. See the full 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 chemistry schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 11 chemistry degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete this degree. Get the full chemistry details for Liberty University

10

Christopher Newport University came in at #10 for chemistry this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 21 chemistry students who graduated with this degree at Christopher Newport University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the chemistry program make about $39,245 in their early career. Christopher Newport University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the chemistry program at Christopher Newport University

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

University Of Richmond came in at #11 for chemistry this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 17 chemistry degrees were awarded at University Of Richmond in the most recent year. Chemistry graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $22,881 early in their careers. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. See the full chemistry program report for University Of Richmond

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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.

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