100 Best colleges for Chemistry in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 441M citations received by 10.9M academic papers made by 1,407 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Chemistry

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Chemistry

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Chemistry

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Chemistry

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

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

15. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Chemistry

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

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

17. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

19. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

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

20. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

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

21. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

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

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#39 in the World

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

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#40 in the World

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

27. University of Texas at Austin

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#41 in the World

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

28. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#49 in the World

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

29. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

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

30. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

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

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

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

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

33. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#60 in the World

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

34. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#64 in the World

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

36. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

37. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#67 in the World

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

38. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

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

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#71 in the World

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

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#72 in the World

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

41. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#75 in the World

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

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#77 in the World

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

43. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#79 in the World

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

44. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#84 in the World

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

45. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Chemistry

#49 in North America

#85 in the World

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

46. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#86 in the World

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

47. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#93 in the World

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

48. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#94 in the World

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

49. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#95 in the World

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

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Chemistry

#54 in North America

#96 in the World

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

51. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Chemistry

#55 in North America

#97 in the World

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

52. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Chemistry

#56 in North America

#98 in the World

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

53. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Chemistry

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

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

54. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Chemistry

#58 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

55. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Chemistry

#59 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

56. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Chemistry

#60 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#61 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

58. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#62 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

59. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#63 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

60. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Chemistry

#65 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

61. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Chemistry

#67 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

62. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Chemistry

#68 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

63. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Chemistry

#69 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

64. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#70 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

65. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Chemistry

#71 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Chemistry

#72 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

67. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#73 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

68. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Chemistry

#74 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

69. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Chemistry

#76 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

70. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#77 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

71. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Chemistry

#78 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

72. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Chemistry

#79 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Chemistry

#80 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Chemistry

#83 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

75. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Chemistry

#86 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

76. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Chemistry

#87 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

77. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemistry

#88 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

78. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Chemistry

#90 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

79. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Chemistry

#91 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

80. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Chemistry

#92 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#93 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

82. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Chemistry

#94 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

83. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Chemistry

#95 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

84. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemistry

#96 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

85. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Chemistry

#97 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

86. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Chemistry

#98 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

87. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Chemistry

#99 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

88. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Chemistry

#100 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

89. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Chemistry

#101 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#103 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

91. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Chemistry

#105 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Chemistry

#106 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

93. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Chemistry

#107 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

94. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Chemistry

#108 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

95. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Chemistry

#109 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

96. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#111 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

97. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#112 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

98. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Chemistry

#114 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

99. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Chemistry

#115 in North America

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

100. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Chemistry

#116 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,361
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

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

Chemistry subfields in the United States

Biochemical Engineering164

Biochemistry1229

Chemical Engineering578

Computational Chemistry330

Environmental Chemistry518

Inorganic Chemistry413

Materials Science1094

Nanotechnology552

Nutrition and Food Science467

Organic Chemistry1121

Petrology and Geochemistry417

Physical chemistry655

Polymer science and Plastics engineering186

Radiochemistry285