MAJOR GUIDE
Best Colleges for Chemistry (2026)
Best colleges for chemistry. Caltech, MIT, Harvard, and 15+ programs compared by research output, ACS accreditation, and career outcomes in pharma and academia.
Top Colleges for Chemistry
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · 2.7% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1530-1580 · GPA: 4.19 · 980 undergrads
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · 3.9% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1530-1580 · GPA: 3.96 · 4,640 undergrads
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · 3.2% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1580 · GPA: 3.95 · 7,178 undergrads
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · 3.7% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1500-1570 · GPA: 3.96 · 7,760 undergrads
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · 11.4% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1330-1530 · GPA: 3.91 · 32,830 undergrads
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · 5.4% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1510-1570 · GPA: 4.07 · 7,560 undergrads
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · 7% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1490-1570 · GPA: 4.09 · 8,870 undergrads
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY · 7.5% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1470-1560 · GPA: 4.07 · 15,740 undergrads
Columbia University
New York, NY · 3.9% acceptance rate · Private
SAT: 1480-1570 · GPA: 4.13 · 8,800 undergrads
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · 44% acceptance rate · Public
SAT: 1310-1490 · GPA: 3.79 · 35,000 undergrads
Career Paths for Chemistry Majors
Chemical Engineer
Pharmaceutical Researcher
Materials Scientist
Forensic Chemist
Chemistry Professor
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chemistry a good pre-med major?
Chemistry is one of the most common pre-med majors. It covers most med school prerequisites directly, and the analytical rigor transfers well to the MCAT and medical training.
Written by AdmitPath team
Rankings based on IPEDS data, program reputation, and career outcome metrics. Last updated June 2026.
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