Best Universities for Chemistry in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.28B citations received by 47.6M academic papers made by 6,447 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 | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Chemistry

#2 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. University of Tokyo

For Chemistry

#1 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

7. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

8. Kyoto University

For Chemistry

#2 in Asia

#2 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

9. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

10. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

11. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Chemistry

#9 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

12. University of Cambridge

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 | California

For Chemistry

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

14. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

15. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Chemistry

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

16. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Chemistry

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

17. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Chemistry

#15 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

19. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

20. Osaka University

For Chemistry

#3 in Asia

#3 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 23,123
Male:Female: 68:32
Founded: 1931

21. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

22. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Chemistry

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

24. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

25. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

26. Tohoku University

For Chemistry

#4 in Asia

#4 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 17,591
Founded: 1907

27. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Chemistry

#5 in Asia

#1 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

28. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Chemistry

#6 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

29. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

30. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

31. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

32. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

33. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

34. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

35. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Chemistry

#26 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

37. National University of Singapore

Singapore | Singapore City

For Chemistry

#7 in Asia

#1 in Singapore

Enrollment: 30,098
Founded: 1905

38. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Chemistry

#5 in Europe

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

39. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

40. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

41. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

42. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Chemistry

#30 in North America

#3 in Canada

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

43. Peking University

China | Beijing

For Chemistry

#8 in Asia

#3 in China

Enrollment: 44,730
Founded: 1898

44. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Chemistry

#6 in Europe

#1 in France

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

45. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#9 in Asia

#4 in China

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

46. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Chemistry

#7 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

47. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#8 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

48. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Chemistry

#9 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

49. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

50. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

51. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Switzerland | Lausanne

For Chemistry

#10 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Enrollment: 12,576

52. Seoul National University

South Korea | Seoul

For Chemistry

#10 in Asia

#1 in South Korea

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

53. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

54. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Chemistry

#11 in Asia

#5 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 18,560
Founded: 1911

55. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

56. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

57. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Chemistry

#12 in Asia

#5 in China

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

58. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Chemistry

#11 in Europe

#2 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 23,420

59. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Chemistry

#36 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

60. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

61. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#38 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

62. Nagoya University

For Chemistry

#13 in Asia

#6 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 15,834
Founded: 1939

63. Lund University

For Chemistry

#12 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

64. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

65. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

66. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Chemistry

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

67. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

68. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Chemistry

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

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

69. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

70. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Chemistry

#2 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

71. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

72. New York University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

73. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#14 in Asia

#7 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 10,357
Founded: 1881

74. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Chemistry

#15 in Asia

#8 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 17,541
Founded: 1918

75. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Chemistry

#13 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

77. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

78. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

79. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

80. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Chemistry

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

81. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#16 in Asia

#6 in China

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

82. Technical University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#15 in Europe

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

83. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Chemistry

#17 in Asia

#2 in Singapore

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

84. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

85. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#49 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

86. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

87. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#16 in Europe

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

88. University of Science and Technology of China

For Chemistry

#18 in Asia

#7 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

89. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#19 in Asia

#8 in China

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

90. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Chemistry

#17 in Europe

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

91. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Chemistry

#20 in Asia

#9 in China

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

92. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Chemistry

#21 in Asia

#10 in China

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

93. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

94. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

95. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

96. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Chemistry

#54 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

97. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Chemistry

#55 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

98. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#56 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

99. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Chemistry

#57 in North America

#53 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

100. Uppsala University

Sweden | Uppsala

For Chemistry

#18 in Europe

#3 in Sweden

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 35,556
Founded: 1477

Chemistry subfields in the World

Biochemical Engineering1129

Biochemistry5847

Chemical Engineering4260

Computational Chemistry2319

Environmental Chemistry3606

Inorganic Chemistry3083

Materials Science5728

Nanotechnology4040

Nutrition and Food Science3690

Organic Chemistry5673

Petrology and Geochemistry2713

Physical chemistry4321

Polymer science and Plastics engineering1013

Radiochemistry2799