# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry
- CIP code: 40.05 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 1,132 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 40 | not reported | $42,544 | not reported |
| Associate's | 252 | not reported | $60,787 | $16,750 |
| Bachelor's | 1,132 | $48,360 | $66,366 | $19,750 |
| Master's | 323 | $69,673 | $95,163 | $34,918 |
| Doctoral | 203 | $98,205 | $116,234 | not reported |
| First professional | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 38 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-the-holy-cross-626) | Worcester, MA | $93,122 | $18,250 |
| [The College of New Jersey](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-college-of-new-jersey-2736) | Ewing, NJ | $90,396 | $27,000 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Boston, MA | $88,364 | not reported |
| [New York University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | New York, NY | $86,197 | not reported |
| [University of Connecticut](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-connecticut-uconn-2902) | Storrs, CT | $84,609 | $17,875 |
| [University of Delaware](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-delaware-2905) | Newark, DE | $84,428 | $23,250 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $82,386 | $11,137 |
| [Drexel University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/drexel-university-834) | Philadelphia, PA | $82,185 | $26,378 |
| [University of New Hampshire](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-new-hampshire-main-campus-2980) | Durham, NH | $82,185 | not reported |
| [University of Oregon](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oregon-3008) | Eugene, OR | $81,984 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Computer and Information Research Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-and-information-research-scientists): $140,300 median pay
- [Business Intelligence Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/business-intelligence-analysts): $120,230 median pay
- [Clinical Data Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-data-managers): $120,230 median pay
- [Data Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/data-scientists): $120,230 median pay
- [Blockchain Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/blockchain-engineers): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Occupations, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-occupations-all-other): $116,580 median pay
- [Computer Systems Engineers/Architects](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-systems-engineers-architects): $116,580 median pay
- [Digital Forensics Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/digital-forensics-analysts): $116,580 median pay
- [Document Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/document-management-specialists): $116,580 median pay
- [Geographic Information Systems Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/geographic-information-systems-technologists-and-technicians): $116,580 median pay
- [Information Security Engineers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-security-engineers): $116,580 median pay
- [Information Technology Project Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-technology-project-managers): $116,580 median pay
- [Penetration Testers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/penetration-testers): $116,580 median pay
- [Web Administrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/web-administrators): $116,580 median pay
- [Physics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physics-teachers-postsecondary): $100,310 median pay
- [Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-science-teachers-postsecondary): $94,980 median pay
- [Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemistry-teachers-postsecondary): $93,250 median pay
- [Chemists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemists): $91,240 median pay
- [Climate Change Policy Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/climate-change-policy-analysts): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Restoration Planners](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-restoration-planners): $82,220 median pay
- [Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-scientists-and-specialists-including-health): $82,220 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics): 772 colleges
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences): 444 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics): 112 colleges
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology): 83 colleges
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences): 45 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/