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Best Schools for Chemistry

Chemistry graduates earn a median of $37,290 within two years of graduation, ranking #129 out of 292 tracked majors — 5% above the median across all fields. There are 259 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 6,552 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn $57,318 while CUNY Brooklyn College graduates earn $10,925 — a $46,393 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Chemistry graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

259
Schools
$37,290
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#129
of 292 Majors
6,552
Graduates

Public vs Private: Chemistry

Public (210 schools)
$37,215
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (49 schools)
$37,612
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $397 more in early earnings on average for Chemistry graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Chemistry by State

California
21 schools
$36,817
New York
17 schools
$34,427
Texas
13 schools
$41,481
Pennsylvania
12 schools
$43,370
Massachusetts
11 schools
$41,694
Michigan
11 schools
$39,353
Ohio
10 schools
$38,640
North Carolina
10 schools
$35,855

Top Chemistry Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
C

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$57,318
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 11.4%
#2
T

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

$57,318
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.5%
#3
B

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$51,273
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 15.7%
#4
H

Hamilton College

Clinton, NY · Private

$51,273
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 11.8%
#5
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$51,106
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,259
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 69.5%
#6
U

University of Delaware

Newark, DE · Public

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,748
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 65.1%
#7
L

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Baton Rouge, LA · Public

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $53,433
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 74.0%
#8
E

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr: $48,937
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 92.9%
#9
W

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

$49,683
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.7%
#10
W

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA · Public

$49,644
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.9%
#11
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$49,058
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,450
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 89.1%
#12
C

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Private

$49,058
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.2%
#13
K

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA · Public

$49,019
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.8%
#14
W

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$48,432
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.2%
#15
R

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$48,041
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,225
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 77.8%
#16
U

University of North Alabama

Florence, AL · Public

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,373
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 96.5%
#17
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$47,260
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.8%
#18
U

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL · Public

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,920
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 62.3%
#19
D

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,664
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 77.5%
#20
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,140
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 43.4%
#21
L

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO · Private

$46,673
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,063
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 65.9%
#22
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$46,620
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,310
Grads: 85
Acceptance: 27.8%
#23
M

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MO · Public

$46,478
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.1%
#24
U

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,934
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 86.4%
#25
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.5%
#26
M

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

$45,852
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,565
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 99.1%
#27
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$45,808
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,138
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 16.5%
#28
N

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$45,808
2yr Earnings
1yr: $54,138
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 5.7%
#29
B

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Bowling Green, OH · Public

$45,808
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,300
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 80.6%
#30
U

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, OH · Public

$45,794
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,419
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 87.7%
#31
S

Salem State University

Salem, MA · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,346
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 95.6%
#32
T

Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX · Public

$45,696
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.5%
#33
C

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

$45,175
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,359
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 21.1%
#34
N

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$44,971
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,049
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 7.1%
#35
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$44,861
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,970
Grads: 102
Acceptance: 43.7%
#36
A

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN · Private

$44,384
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.5%
#37
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$44,356
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.2%
#38
U

University of New Haven

West Haven, CT · Private

$44,356
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,982
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 80.5%
#39
U

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI · Public

$44,189
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,320
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 87.3%
#40
B

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA · Public

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,643
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 89.2%
#41
U

University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,314
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 90.6%
#42
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$44,021
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,508
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 63.2%
#43
U

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI · Public

$44,021
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.3%
#44
H

Hamline University

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.8%
#45
K

Keene State College

Keene, NH · Public

$43,798
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.1%
#46
T

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,631
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 84.8%
#47
D

DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private

$43,575
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.5%
#48
W

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV · Public

$43,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,079
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 61.0%
#49
W

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public

$43,314
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,079
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 86.3%
#50
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 93.6%

Showing top 50 of 259 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations $38,923 Computer Software and Media Applications $38,247 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration $38,044 Special Education and Teaching $37,736 Plant Sciences $37,350 Architecture and Related Services, Other $37,279

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Chemistry?
Carnegie Mellon University ranks #1 for Chemistry with median graduate earnings of $57,318 within two years. There are 259 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates earn an average of $37,290 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $10,925 to $57,318 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Chemistry program?
The average acceptance rate across Chemistry programs is 70.4%. The most selective program is at Northeastern University with a 5.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Chemistry?
Private Chemistry programs average $37,612 in early earnings vs $37,215 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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