2026 Best Value Chemistry Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in chemistry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Chemistry Schools
Leading the list is California State University Los Angeles, our #1 best value for chemistry in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $11,000. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $44,944. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in chemistry will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $18,675 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $45,076. Set against $18,675 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Northridge came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $16,202. Chemistry graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $44,874 early in their careers. Set against $16,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Brooklyn College earned it the #4 place for chemistry. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $13,303. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $34,239. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny Hunter College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in chemistry, landing the #5 spot this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $29,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #6 position for value in chemistry this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $16,553 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $40,402. That is a strong return on a $16,553 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida placed #7 among the best values for chemistry. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $14,824 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $25,418 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Princeton University came in at #8 for value in chemistry this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach came in at #9 for value in chemistry this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,680 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,553. That is a strong return on a $15,680 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Cuny City College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $53,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Stanford University placed #11 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the chemistry program here. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned the #12 position for value in chemistry this year. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,282. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $11,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $44,323. Set against $11,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Lehman College earned the #13 position for value in chemistry this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $12,136 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $31,815. That is a strong return on a $12,136 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
The University Of West Florida earned the #14 position for value in chemistry this year. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $19,677. Chemistry graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $47,141 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #15 among the best values for chemistry. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $22,913 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida placed #16 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $19,706 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $43,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Channel Islands ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the rural area of Camarillo, California State University Channel Islands is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,159, while out-of-state students pay about $19,759. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $46,131. That is a strong return on a $21,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #18 for value in chemistry this year. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,572 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $52,565. Set against $25,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University came in at #19 for value in chemistry this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for chemistry graduates is $11,904. Chemistry graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Dalton State College landed the #20 spot for chemistry value this year. Dalton State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dalton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,336, while out-of-state students pay about $10,656. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $14,955 in student loans. Soon after graduation, chemistry degree recipients from Dalton State College generally make around $41,654. Set against $14,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Murray State University placed #21 among the best values for chemistry. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $48,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
California State University East Bay earned the #22 position for value in chemistry this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,583, with out-of-state students paying around $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
Utah Valley University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value chemistry schools. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the chemistry program here. Chemistry graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
California State University San Marcos earned the #24 position for value in chemistry this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Chemistry graduates carry a median of $17,527 in student loans. Chemistry graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $49,382 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,527 median debt. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
Weber State University came in at #25 for value in chemistry this year. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the chemistry program here. Early-career chemistry graduates make about $50,350. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Chemistry Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in chemistry:
Other Chemistry Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Chemistry rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 1380 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 238 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Chemistry](/majors/physical-sciences/chemistry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
