100 Best colleges for Chemistry in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 563M citations received by 12.2M academic papers made by 1,447 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: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

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: $17,998

3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Chemistry

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Chemistry

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Chemistry

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

8. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Chemistry

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Chemistry

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

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: $26,044

13. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Chemistry

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Chemistry

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

17. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Chemistry

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Chemistry

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Chemistry

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

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

20. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Chemistry

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Chemistry

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

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

22. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Chemistry

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Chemistry

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Chemistry

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

25. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

26. University of Texas at Austin

For Chemistry

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#29 in North America

#43 in the World

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

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Chemistry

#31 in North America

#46 in the World

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

29. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Chemistry

#32 in North America

#47 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Chemistry

#33 in North America

#48 in the World

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

31. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Chemistry

#34 in North America

#50 in the World

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

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#35 in North America

#52 in the World

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

33. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#36 in North America

#60 in the World

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

34. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Chemistry

#37 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Chemistry

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

37. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Chemistry

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Chemistry

#42 in North America

#67 in the World

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

39. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#43 in North America

#68 in the World

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

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

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

41. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Chemistry

#45 in North America

#73 in the World

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

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Chemistry

#46 in North America

#77 in the World

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

43. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Chemistry

#47 in North America

#79 in the World

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

44. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Chemistry

#48 in North America

#89 in the World

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

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: $26,689

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Chemistry

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

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

47. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Chemistry

#51 in North America

#95 in the World

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

48. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Chemistry

#52 in North America

#96 in the World

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

49. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Chemistry

#53 in North America

#97 in the World

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

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Chemistry

#54 in North America

#98 in the World

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

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Chemistry

#55 in North America

#99 in the World

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

52. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Chemistry

#56 in North America

#100 in the World

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

53. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Chemistry

#57 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

54. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Chemistry

#58 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

55. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Chemistry

#59 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

56. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Chemistry

#60 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Chemistry

#61 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

58. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#62 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

59. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#64 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 286
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1901

60. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Chemistry

#65 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

61. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Chemistry

#67 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

62. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Chemistry

#68 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Chemistry

#69 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

64. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Chemistry

#70 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

65. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Chemistry

#71 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Chemistry

#72 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

67. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Chemistry

#73 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

68. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Chemistry

#74 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

69. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Chemistry

#76 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Chemistry

#77 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

71. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Chemistry

#78 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

72. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Chemistry

#81 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

73. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Chemistry

#82 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Chemistry

#83 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Chemistry

#84 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
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: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

77. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Chemistry

#87 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

78. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Chemistry

#89 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

79. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Chemistry

#90 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

80. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Chemistry

#92 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

81. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Chemistry

#93 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

82. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#94 in North America

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

83. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Chemistry

#95 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

84. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Chemistry

#96 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

85. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Chemistry

#97 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

86. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Chemistry

#98 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

87. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Chemistry

#99 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

88. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Chemistry

#100 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

89. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Chemistry

#101 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

90. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#103 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Chemistry

#105 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,640
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Chemistry

#106 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

93. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Chemistry

#107 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Chemistry

#108 in North America

#280 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

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

96. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Chemistry

#110 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

97. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Chemistry

#112 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

98. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Chemistry

#113 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

99. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Chemistry

#114 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

100. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Chemistry

#116 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,315
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, Baltimore, and Ann Arbor.

Chemistry subfields in the United States

Biochemical Engineering171

Biochemistry1268

Chemical Engineering618

Computational Chemistry340

Environmental Chemistry543

Inorganic Chemistry426

Materials Science1124

Nanotechnology586

Nutrition and Food Science483

Organic Chemistry1148

Petrology and Geochemistry452

Physical chemistry681

Polymer science and Plastics engineering182

Radiochemistry297