100 Best colleges for Chemistry in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Chemistry. A graph of 588M citations received by 12.4M academic papers made by 1,455 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Chemistry

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Chemistry

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Chemistry

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Chemistry

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

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

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#29 in the World

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

20. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

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

22. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

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

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

26. University of Texas at Austin

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#43 in the World

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

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#46 in the World

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

29. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#48 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#49 in the World

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

31. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#50 in the World

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

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#57 in the World

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

33. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Chemistry

#36 in North America

#60 in the World

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

34. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#67 in the World

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

37. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#68 in the World

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

38. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

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

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#70 in the World

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

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#72 in the World

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

41. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#77 in the World

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

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

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

43. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#85 in the World

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

44. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#90 in the World

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

45. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Chemistry

#49 in North America

#92 in the World

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

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#95 in the World

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

47. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#98 in the World

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

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#99 in the World

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

49. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#100 in the World

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

50. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemistry

#54 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Chemistry

#55 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

52. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Chemistry

#56 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Chemistry

#57 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

54. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Chemistry

#58 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

55. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Chemistry

#59 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

56. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Chemistry

#60 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#61 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

58. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#62 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

59. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Chemistry

#64 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

60. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#65 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 281
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1901

61. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#67 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

62. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Chemistry

#68 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#69 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

64. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Chemistry

#70 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

65. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Chemistry

#71 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Chemistry

#72 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

67. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Chemistry

#73 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

68. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Chemistry

#75 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

69. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Chemistry

#76 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Chemistry

#79 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

71. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#80 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

72. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Chemistry

#81 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Chemistry

#82 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Chemistry

#83 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Chemistry

#84 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

76. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Chemistry

#86 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

77. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Chemistry

#88 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

78. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Chemistry

#89 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

79. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemistry

#91 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

80. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Chemistry

#92 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

81. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Chemistry

#93 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

82. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#94 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

83. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Chemistry

#95 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

84. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#96 in North America

#219 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

85. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Chemistry

#97 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

86. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Chemistry

#98 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

87. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Chemistry

#99 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

88. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Chemistry

#100 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

89. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Chemistry

#101 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#103 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

91. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Chemistry

#105 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Chemistry

#106 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

93. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Chemistry

#107 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

94. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Chemistry

#108 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

95. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Chemistry

#109 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

96. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#111 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

97. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Chemistry

#112 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

98. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Chemistry

#114 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

99. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Chemistry

#115 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

100. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Chemistry

#116 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

The best cities to study Chemistry in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Stanford, Baltimore, and Ann Arbor.

Chemistry subfields in the United States

Biochemical Engineering171

Biochemistry1277

Chemical Engineering621

Computational Chemistry341

Environmental Chemistry547

Inorganic Chemistry431

Materials Science1132

Nanotechnology595

Nutrition and Food Science493

Organic Chemistry1158

Petrology and Geochemistry456

Physical chemistry685

Polymer science and Plastics engineering173

Radiochemistry298