by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you are curious about the building blocks of life and matter, a major in Chemistry might be for you. In this major, you will learn everything about matter including the atoms that make it up, how it behaves when manipulated, and reactions it has to other matter. You will take classes in organic chemistry, physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and biochemistry, and many others in order to be introduced to the many practical uses for chemistry.
Chemistry is a large field and offers many specializations. You may have the option to choose a concentration in Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Theoretical Chemistry. These areas of specialization open up a variety of career choices to students.
Chemistry was the 51st most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 20,985 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Chemistry Schools ranking analyzes 243 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for chemistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of chemistry programs later in this article.
Students should have a strong background in science and math. You will be required to use and memorize a variety of formulas when conducting experiments. Strong critical thinking and analytical skills will help you look at data and draw conclusions. Problem solving skills will help you use this data to solve issues. You will also be required to give presentations or write articles about your findings.
Both your undergrad work and most future careers will involve a lot of time spent in a lab performing experiments and recording data. Experience in this field is helpful when you are looking for a job after graduation. You can gain this experience by working in research labs on your campus while working towards to undergraduate degree, through internship, or through fellowships.
A bachelor's degree will allow you to work as a chemist, but you must obtain a master's or Ph.D. if you wish to conduct research or lead experiments. Typically, you will specialize in a certain aspect of chemistry when you earn an advanced degree.
chemistry degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic chemistry program qualifications, to serve in some chemistry careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are many different chemistry degree levels. You can get anything from a in chemistry to the highest chemistry degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common chemistry degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to chemistry, with approximately 37.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for chemistry workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 17.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.6% |
50.7% of chemistry workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in chemistry have received.
This of course varies depending on which chemistry career you choose.
Chemists work in a variety of locations from research and development labs to medical manufacturing. Graduates have been hired by manufacturers to develop new materials, private industries to perform tests for pharmaceuticals, and by companies to monitor environmental conditions. You will be able to employ your strong understanding of chemistry concepts to any number of industries.
Want a job when you graduate with your chemistry degree? Chemistry careers are expected to grow 8.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to chemistry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists | 99,400 | 11.1% |
| Chemists | 94,000 | 6.5% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Chemistry Professors | 28,900 | 9.9% |
Chemistry graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $45,457 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $16,465 to as high as $110,158. As you might expect, salaries for chemistry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for chemistry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Physics Postsecondary Professors | $103,830 |
| Chemistry Professors | $92,360 |
| Environmental Science Professors | $91,330 |
| Chemists | $83,850 |
With over 2,497 different chemistry degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased chemistry school rankings to help you with this.
Chemistry is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry | 19,817 |
| Other Chemistry | 659 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 318 |
| Polymer Chemistry | 58 |
| Chemical Physics | 46 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics | 13,447 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 8,124 |
| General Physical Sciences | 3,141 |
| Astronomy & Astrophysics | 1,396 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 1,183 |
