Best Universities for Chemistry in the World

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 1.66B citations received by 53.7M academic papers made by 6,545 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: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Stanford University

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: $17,998

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

4. University of Tokyo

For Chemistry

#1 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,479
Founded: 1877

5. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

7. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

9. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. Kyoto University

For Chemistry

#2 in Asia

#2 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Founded: 1897

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: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

14. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

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: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

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: $26,044

17. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
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: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

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
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 Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

23. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#17 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

25. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

26. Tsinghua University

China | Beijing

For Chemistry

#4 in Asia

#1 in China

Enrollment: 48,739
Founded: 1911

27. Zhejiang University

China | Hangzhou

For Chemistry

#5 in Asia

#2 in China

Enrollment: 60,739
Founded: 1897

28. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

29. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#4 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

30. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

31. Tohoku University

For Chemistry

#6 in Asia

#4 in Japan

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

32. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

33. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

34. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

35. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

36. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Chemistry

#26 in North America

#2 in Canada

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

37. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#7 in Asia

#3 in China

Enrollment: 47,000
Founded: 1896

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 | Pennsylvania

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

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 | Texas

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

43. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

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 | Indiana

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

47. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

48. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

49. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Chemistry

#7 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

50. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

51. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Chemistry

#8 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

52. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

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. Seoul National University

South Korea | Seoul

For Chemistry

#10 in Asia

#1 in South Korea

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

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 | Zurich

For Chemistry

#10 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 23,420

57. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Switzerland | Lausanne

For Chemistry

#11 in Europe

#2 in Switzerland

Enrollment: 12,576

58. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Chemistry

#11 in Asia

#5 in China

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

59. Kyushu University

Japan | Fukuoka

For Chemistry

#12 in Asia

#5 in Japan

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

60. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

61. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

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 | Texas

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

64. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Chemistry

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

65. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

66. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

67. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

68. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

69. Nagoya University

For Chemistry

#13 in Asia

#6 in Japan

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

70. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Chemistry

#2 in Australia

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

71. New York University

United States | New York State

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

72. Lund University

For Chemistry

#12 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

73. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

74. Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#14 in Asia

#6 in China

Enrollment: 71,970
Founded: 1953

75. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Chemistry

#13 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

76. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

77. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

78. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#15 in Europe

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

79. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. Sun Yat - Sen University

China | Guangzhou

For Chemistry

#15 in Asia

#7 in China

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

81. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Chemistry

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

82. Hokkaido University

Japan | Sapporo

For Chemistry

#16 in Asia

#7 in Japan

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

83. Sichuan University

China | Chengdu

For Chemistry

#17 in Asia

#8 in China

Enrollment: 44,200
Founded: 1896

84. Fudan University

China | Shanghai

For Chemistry

#18 in Asia

#9 in China

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1905

85. Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#19 in Asia

#8 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1881

86. Nanyang Technological University

Singapore | Singapore City

For Chemistry

#20 in Asia

#2 in Singapore

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1955

87. Technical University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Chemistry

#16 in Europe

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

88. University of Science and Technology of China

For Chemistry

#21 in Asia

#10 in China

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1958

89. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

90. Central South University

China | Changsha

For Chemistry

#22 in Asia

#11 in China

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1914

91. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Chemistry

#17 in Europe

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

92. Vanderbilt University

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: $26,689

93. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Chemistry

#18 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

94. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

95. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

96. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

97. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

98. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Chemistry

#54 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

99. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Chemistry

#55 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

100. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Chemistry

#56 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

Chemistry subfields in the World

Biochemical Engineering1346

Biochemistry5983

Chemical Engineering4419

Computational Chemistry2426

Environmental Chemistry3742

Inorganic Chemistry3214

Materials Science5843

Nanotechnology4181

Nutrition and Food Science3895

Organic Chemistry5782

Petrology and Geochemistry2915

Physical chemistry4452

Polymer science and Plastics engineering1015

Radiochemistry2913