[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Best Chemistry Programs in the West (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Best Chemistry Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-chemistry-programs/)

This page ranks 52 Chemistry programs in the West by median earnings of Chemistry graduates four years after completing. [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $82,386 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $82,386 to $28,598, with a median of $64,910. The gap between the first- and second-ranked programs is $402.

Public institutions account for 88% of the programs on the list. University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

California State University-Los Angeles reports the lowest average net price on the page, at $3,967.

## The ranked list

52 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $82,386 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) reports [median earnings of $82,386](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list, alongside an admission rate of 11%. |
| 2 | University of Oregon · Eugene, OR | $81,984 | $22,182 | $15,909 | 88.3% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [University of Oregon](/school/university-of-oregon/majors/) with a [median of $20,139](/school/university-of-oregon/outcomes/) in federal loans, while its Chemistry graduates earned a median of $81,984 four years after completing, ranking 2nd on this page. |
| 3 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $79,878 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | With an [average net price of $7,021,](/school/california-state-university-northridge/cost/) [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) ranks 3rd on this page and posts median earnings of $79,878 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Willamette University · Salem, OR | $79,592 | $25,121 | $16,182 | 77.1% |
|  | Willamette University, a private nonprofit university in Salem, ranks 4th on this list and reports median earnings of $79,592 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $78,901 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) [admits 87% of applicants](/school/boise-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $78,901 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, ranking 5th on this page. |
| 6 | Oregon State University · Corvallis, OR | $78,417 | $19,604 | $12,107 | 77.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $19,604](/school/oregon-state-university/cost/) coincides with [Oregon State University](/school/oregon-state-university/majors/)'s 6th rank on this list and median earnings of $78,417 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $77,249 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) ranks 7th on this list and reports [median earnings of $77,249](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 27%. |
| 8 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $76,759 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
|  | Admitting 99% of applicants, [Metropolitan State University of Denver](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/majors/) reports [median earnings of $76,759](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, ranking 8th on this page. |
| 9 | Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA | $75,905 | $18,476 | $11,846 | 90.6% |
|  | [Central Washington University](/school/central-washington-university/majors/) ranks 9th on this list with [median earnings of $75,905](/school/central-washington-university/outcomes/) four years after completing, and its graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $19,500 in federal loans. |
| 10 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $74,810 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) reports [median earnings of $74,810](/school/university-of-california-irvine/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, ranking 10th on this page, and holds an average net price of $14,251. |
| 11 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $74,713 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) with a [median of $13,993](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/outcomes/) in federal loans, and its Chemistry graduates earned a median of $74,713 four years after completing. |
| 12 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $74,676 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) [admits 36% of applicants](/school/san-diego-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $74,676 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, ranking 12th on this page. |
| 13 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $74,430 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) reports [median earnings of $74,430](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,338. |
| 14 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $73,392 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [California State University-Stanislaus](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/majors/) left with a [median of $13,540](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school ranks 14th on this list. |
| 15 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $73,365 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) [admits 42% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-davis/admissions/) and holds an Azimuth composite rank of 18th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 16 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $72,220 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 9%](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/admissions/), [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) is the most selective school on the page, and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $72,220 four years after completing. |
| 17 | Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort Collins, CO | $71,615 | $21,279 | $13,259 | 88.5% |
|  | [Colorado State University-Fort Collins](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/majors/) posts [median earnings of $71,615](/school/colorado-state-university-fort-collins/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $21,279. |
| 18 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $71,348 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | A public university in Santa Cruz, [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/) shows a [median of $16,666](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/outcomes/) in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed. |
| 19 | University of Utah · Salt Lake City, UT | $71,276 | $16,200 | $13,123 | 86.0% |
|  | [University of Utah](/school/university-of-utah/majors/) ranks 19th on this list and reports [median earnings of $71,276](/school/university-of-utah/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 20 | Portland State University · Portland, OR | $70,948 | $9,552 | $7,655 | 90.9% |
|  | [Portland State University](/school/portland-state-university/majors/) has an [average net price of $9,552](/school/portland-state-university/cost/) and an Azimuth composite rank of 135th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 21 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $70,741 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) reports [median earnings of $70,741](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 76 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 22 | University of Wyoming · Laramie, WY | $69,992 | $13,599 | $7,977 | 96.9% |
|  | [University of Wyoming](/school/university-of-wyoming/majors/) [admits 97% of applicants](/school/university-of-wyoming/admissions/), and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $18,000 in federal loans. |
| 23 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $67,818 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) holds an [Azimuth composite rank of 5th](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $67,818 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $66,532 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) posts an [average net price of $16,674](/school/university-of-arizona/cost/) and ranks 24th on this list. |
| 25 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $65,414 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
|  | Ranks 25th on this list, University of Northern Colorado reports median earnings of $65,414 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing alongside an average net price of $17,760. |
| 26 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Denver, CO | $64,964 | $11,900 | $6,743 | 74.7% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed at [University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/majors/) left with a [median of $20,500](/school/university-of-colorado-denveranschutz-medical-campus/outcomes/) in federal loans, and the school ranks 130th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 27 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $64,857 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) [admits 91% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $3,315 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 28 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $64,676 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 39.2% |
|  | [University of Washington-Seattle Campus](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/majors/) ranks 28th on this list, with [median earnings of $64,676](/school/university-of-washington-seattle-campus/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 77 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 29 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $64,131 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
|  | A public university in Riverside, [University of California-Riverside](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 76%](/school/university-of-california-riverside/admissions/) and an average net price of $14,304. |
| 30 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $63,882 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) reports [median earnings of $63,882](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $18,500 in federal loans. |
| 31 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $63,496 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | An [average net price of $2,681](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with an Azimuth composite rank of 43rd among nonprofit four-year institutions at [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/). |
| 32 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $60,630 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/northern-arizona-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $60,630 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 33 | Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA | $59,993 | $19,589 | $13,609 | 78.0% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University reports an average net price of $19,589 and a median of $22,578 in federal loans across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 34 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $58,498 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
|  | [California State University-Channel Islands](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/majors/) ranks 34th on this list, with an [admission rate of 95%](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/admissions/) and an average net price of $6,857 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 35 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $58,247 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) reports [median earnings of $58,247](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, alongside a cohort of 101 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 36 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $56,888 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
|  | [University of California-Merced](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) [ranks 121st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-merced/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $11,983. |
| 37 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $56,319 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | With 26 graduates in the earnings cohort, [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,319](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 38 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $55,793 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | Admitting 93% of applicants, [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $55,793](/school/western-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing. |
| 39 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $54,966 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [ranks 92nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-southern-california/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts a 10% admission rate. |
| 40 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $51,747 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) carries an [average net price of $3,967](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/cost/) and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $51,747 four years after completing. |
| 41 | Fort Lewis College · Durango, CO | $51,332 | $17,296 | $18,622 | 77.3% |
|  | Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $18,389 in federal loans at Fort Lewis College, where the Chemistry program reports median earnings of $51,332 four years after completing. |
| 42 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $50,579 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) [ranks 390th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $13,171. |
| 43 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $45,522 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | An [average net price of $5,105](/school/california-state-university-fresno/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median earnings of $45,522 for Chemistry graduates at [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 44 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $44,356 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) [admits 96% of applicants](/school/san-francisco-state-university/admissions/) and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $44,356 four years after completing. |
| 45 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $42,682 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
|  | [University of Colorado Boulder](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/) reports an [average net price of $14,231](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $42,682 four years after completing. |
| 46 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $42,682 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
|  | [Eastern Washington University](/school/eastern-washington-university/majors/) [ranks 316th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/eastern-washington-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 23 graduates in the Chemistry earnings cohort. |
| 47 | Colorado School of Mines · Golden, CO | $38,289 | $28,690 | $16,849 | 60.7% |
|  | [Colorado School of Mines](/school/colorado-school-of-mines/majors/) [admits 61% of applicants](/school/colorado-school-of-mines/admissions/) and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $38,289 four years after completing. |
| 48 | Whitworth University · Spokane, WA | $33,993 | $26,534 | $16,788 | 89.8% |
|  | Whitworth University reports an average net price of $16,788 for families earning under $30,000, and its Chemistry graduates earn a median of $33,993 four years after completing. |
| 49 | University of Portland · Portland, OR | $32,925 | $28,210 | $20,070 | 89.2% |
|  | University of Portland ranks 49th on this list with median earnings of $32,925 for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $28,210. |
| 50 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $32,563 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
|  | A public university in Bakersfield, [California State University-Bakersfield](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) reports an [average net price of $5,652](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/cost/) and an admission rate of 94%. |
| 51 | University of Nevada-Reno · Reno, NV | $29,685 | $15,927 | $12,674 | 73.7% |
|  | [University of Nevada-Reno](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/majors/) posts [median earnings of $29,685](/school/university-of-nevada-reno/outcomes/) for its Chemistry graduates four years after completing, alongside an Azimuth composite rank of 209th among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 52 | Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR | $28,598 | $35,273 | $23,318 | 89.6% |
|  | Pacific University, a private nonprofit institution in Forest Grove, reports an average net price of $23,318 for families earning under $30,000 and a cohort of 10 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Chemistry graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the West appear. The figure is the median earnings of federally aided Chemistry completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 9 of the 52 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from University of California-Berkeley to the bottom of the list is $53,788, and the gap between University of California-Berkeley and University of Oregon is just $402.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Chemistry Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-chemistry-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Best Chemistry Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-chemistry-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Best Chemistry Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-chemistry-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Chemistry Programs in the South](/rankings/best-chemistry-programs-in-the-south/)
-   Physical Sciences Colleges in the West