Chemistry
Chemistry graduates earn an average annual wage of $161,017, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 16,330 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Chemistry and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$8,179 Median In-State Public
$39,340 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Chemistry majors are, on average, $8,179 for in-state public colleges, and $39,340 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Chemistry programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
19,434 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Chemistry from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Chemistry.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Canyon University | AZ | 68,619 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | 64,398 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College Station | TX | 59,099 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida | FL | 59,095 |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 54,926 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Chemistry programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
| 2 | Imperial Valley College | CA | $1,126 |
| 3 | Yuba College | CA | $1,128 |
| 4 | El Camino Community College District | CA | $1,144 |
| 5 | Chabot College | CA | $1,150 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Chemistry programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada College | CA | $10 |
| 2 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $29 |
| 3 | Henry Ford College | MI | $576 |
| 4 | Oxnard College | CA | $659 |
| 5 | Cerritos College | CA | $693 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Chemistry programs.
Graduation Rates
56.64% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
54.99% Average Graduation Rate
199 Institutions Reporting
44.28% - 68.23% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Chemistry programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Chemistry graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$161,017 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Chemistry majors is $161,017.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Chemistry majors.
Occupations by Share
16,330 2023 Workforce
The number of Chemistry graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Chemistry by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Chemistry degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
ROI data is not available for this degree program.
Financial value comparison for Chemistry degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Chemistry in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Chemistry.
Age distribution for Chemistry degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
46,659 Total Degrees Awarded
26,295 Male (56.36%)
20,364 Female (43.64%)
Gender distribution of Chemistry degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
23,554 White (50.48%)
6,280 Hispanic or Latino (13.46%)
4,640 Asian (9.94%)
2,010 Black or African American (4.31%)
2,011 Two or More Races (4.31%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Chemistry degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Chemistry are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Chemistry.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Chemistry field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Chemistry majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Chemistry majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Chemistry majors.
About
Chemistry
In 2023, 19,434 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Chemistry.
CIP Code
40.4005 - Chemistry
Insights and Analysis
High Earning Potential: Chemistry graduates earn an average annual wage of $161,017, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.