Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Chemistry
CIP40.05
1,132 colleges offer Chemistry. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,132
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $66,366
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $19,750
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 40
- Associate's
- 252
- Bachelor's
- 1,132
- Master's
- 323
- Doctoral
- 203
- First professional
- 2
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 38
What it covers
About Chemistry
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 40.05.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 40.05.
- Chemistry, General
- Analytical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Forensic Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 40 | $42,5444 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Associate's | 252 | $60,7874 yrs after · 1 college | $16,7501 college |
| Bachelor's | 1,132 | $66,3664 yrs after · 198 colleges | $19,750164 colleges |
| Master's | 323 | $95,1634 yrs after · 9 colleges | $34,9183 colleges |
| Doctoral | 203 | $116,2344 yrs after · 37 colleges | Not reported |
| First professional | 2 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 38 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Chemistry graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit · 35 graduates
$93,122
debt $18,250
- 2
Ewing, NJ · Public · 24 graduates
$90,396
debt $27,000
- 3
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 27 graduates
$88,364
debt not reported
- 4
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 31 graduates
$86,197
debt not reported
- 5
Storrs, CT · Public · 35 graduates
$84,609
debt $17,875
- 6
Newark, DE · Public · 22 graduates
$84,428
debt $23,250
- 7
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 135 graduates
$82,386
debt $11,137
- 8
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 17 graduates
$82,185
debt $26,378
- 9
Durham, NH · Public · 11 graduates
$82,185
debt not reported
- 10
Eugene, OR · Public · 21 graduates
$81,984
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Chemistry by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Median pay
- $140,300
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Master's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Business Intelligence Analysts
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Clinical Data Managers
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Scientists
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Blockchain Engineers
- Median pay
- $116,580
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
More in Physical Sciences
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Chemistry
How many colleges offer Chemistry?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Chemistry at these degree levels: certificate (40 colleges), associate's (252 colleges), bachelor's (1,132 colleges), master's (323 colleges), doctoral (203 colleges), first professional (2 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (38 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Chemistry graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Chemistry earn $66,366 a year four years after finishing, across 198 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Chemistry graduates earn the most?
College of the Holy Cross reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Chemistry: $93,122 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.