Best Universities for Chemistry in the World

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Chemistry. A graph of 1.77B citations received by 55.4M academic papers made by 6,561 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Stanford University

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

4. University of Tokyo

For Chemistry

#1 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,918
Founded: 1877

5. Johns Hopkins University

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States Flag

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

7. University of California - Berkeley

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

8. Cornell University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States Flag

United States | Washington

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

10. Kyoto University

For Chemistry

#2 in Asia

#2 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,365
Founded: 1897

11. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Chemistry

#9 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

12. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

13. University of California-San Diego

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

14. University of Pennsylvania

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

15. University of California - Los Angeles

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

16. Yale University

United States Flag

United States | Connecticut

For Chemistry

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

17. University of California - San Francisco

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

18. University of Oxford

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States Flag

United States | Wisconsin

For Chemistry

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. Osaka University

For Chemistry

#3 in Asia

#3 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,234
Founded: 1931

21. University College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States Flag

United States | Minnesota

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

23. Columbia University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

25. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Chemistry

#4 in Asia

#1 in China

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

26. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Chemistry

#5 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

27. Pennsylvania State University

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

28. Imperial College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

29. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

30. Northwestern University

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

31. Washington University in St Louis

United States Flag

United States | Missouri

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

32. University of California - Davis

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

33. Tohoku University

For Chemistry

#6 in Asia

#4 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,975
Founded: 1907

34. Ohio State University

United States Flag

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

35. University of Florida

United States Flag

United States | Florida

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#7 in Asia

#3 in China

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

37. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Chemistry

#26 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

38. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Chemistry

#8 in Asia

#4 in China

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

39. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Chemistry

#9 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

40. University of Pittsburgh

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

41. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Chemistry

#5 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

42. University of Texas at Austin

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

43. University of Chicago

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

44. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Chemistry

#30 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

45. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Chemistry

#6 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

46. Purdue University

United States Flag

United States | Indiana

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

47. University of Manchester

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#7 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

48. California Institute of Technology

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

49. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States Flag

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

50. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

51. Seoul National University

South Korea Flag

South Korea | Seoul

For Chemistry

#10 in Asia

#1 in South Korea

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 28,378
Founded: 1946

52. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Chemistry

#8 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

53. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Chemistry

#9 in Europe

#1 in France

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

54. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Chemistry

#11 in Asia

#5 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

55. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Chemistry

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

56. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Switzerland Flag

Switzerland | Zurich

For Chemistry

#10 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 23,420

57. University of Southern California

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

58. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Switzerland Flag

Switzerland | Lausanne

For Chemistry

#11 in Europe

#2 in Switzerland

Enrollment: 12,576

59. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Chemistry

#12 in Asia

#5 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,813
Founded: 1911

60. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

61. Baylor College of Medicine

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

62. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Chemistry

#38 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

63. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

64. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Chemistry

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

65. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#13 in Asia

#6 in China

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

66. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Chemistry

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 77,162
Founded: 1853

67. Duke University

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

68. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States Flag

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

69. Princeton University

United States Flag

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

70. University of Utah

United States Flag

United States | Utah

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

71. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Chemistry

#12 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

72. New York University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

73. Nagoya University

For Chemistry

#14 in Asia

#6 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,959
Founded: 1939

74. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Chemistry

#15 in Asia

#7 in China

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 65,638
Founded: 1924

75. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Chemistry

#16 in Asia

#8 in China

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

76. Lund University

For Chemistry

#13 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

77. University of Arizona

United States Flag

United States | Arizona

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

78. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Chemistry

#17 in Asia

#9 in China

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

79. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

80. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#18 in Asia

#10 in China

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

81. Emory University

United States Flag

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

82. University of Science and Technology of China

For Chemistry

#19 in Asia

#11 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

83. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Chemistry

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

84. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#15 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 52,418
Founded: 1472

85. Michigan State University

United States Flag

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

86. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Chemistry

#20 in Asia

#2 in Singapore

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

87. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Chemistry

#21 in Asia

#7 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,770
Founded: 1918

88. Technical University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#16 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 44,000
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1868

89. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#22 in Asia

#8 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

90. Case Western Reserve University

United States Flag

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

91. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Chemistry

#17 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

92. Vanderbilt University

United States Flag

United States | Tennessee

For Chemistry

#49 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

93. Nanjing University

China | Nanjing

For Chemistry

#23 in Asia

#12 in China

Enrollment: 56,068
Founded: 1902

94. Utrecht University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Chemistry

#18 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1636

95. University of California - Irvine

United States Flag

United States | California

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

96. Jilin University

China | Changchun

For Chemistry

#24 in Asia

#13 in China

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 68,000
Founded: 1946

97. Harbin Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#25 in Asia

#14 in China

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1920

98. University of Maryland - College Park

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

99. University of Virginia

United States Flag

United States | Virginia

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

100. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

Chemistry subfields in the World

Biochemical Engineering1395

Biochemistry6018

Chemical Engineering4453

Computational Chemistry2454

Environmental Chemistry3780

Inorganic Chemistry3237

Materials Science5871

Nanotechnology4220

Nutrition and Food Science3944

Organic Chemistry5807

Petrology and Geochemistry2954

Physical chemistry4479

Polymer science and Plastics engineering1009

Radiochemistry2928