Best Chemistry Schools in California

California has 25 colleges offering Chemistry programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 863 recent graduates. Graduates earn $36,368 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $37,391.

Schools in CA

$36,368

CA Avg. Earnings

$37,391

National Avg.

304

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Chemistry in California

Public Schools (24)

$36,368

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (1)

avg. 2yr earnings

Chemistry Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$41,193

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,449

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 11.7%

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,771

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 93.2%

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$39,369

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,643

Graduates: 98

Acceptance: 24.5%

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$40,768

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,936

Graduates: 92

Acceptance: 25.6%

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$46,620

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,310

Graduates: 85

Acceptance: 27.8%

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$40,458

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $40,950

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 34.4%

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$42,682

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 93.6%

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$26,896

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,788

Graduates: 25

Acceptance: 97.5%

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$38,769

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,205

Graduates: 82

Acceptance: 41.6%

#10

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$36,455

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,503

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 8.7%

#11

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$36,938

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,243

Graduates: 52

Acceptance: 62.5%

#12

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$37,424

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,610

Graduates: 49

Acceptance: 73.7%

#13

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$35,060

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,996

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 47.1%

#14

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$31,314

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,331

Graduates: 28

Acceptance: 86.7%

#15

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$36,848

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,684

Graduates: 46

Acceptance: 63.3%

#16

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,999

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: 98.3%

#18

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$35,274

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,387

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 93.1%

#19

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$29,685

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,397

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 39.2%

#20

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,960

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 91.9%

#22

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,348

Graduates: 22

Acceptance: 98.8%

#23

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$32,563

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 88.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Chemistry in California?

University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Chemistry in California with median graduate earnings of $41,193 within two years of graduation. There are 25 schools offering Chemistry programs in the state.

How much do Chemistry graduates earn in California?

Chemistry graduates in California earn an average of $36,368 within two years of graduation. This is 3% below the national average of $37,391 for this major.

What is the hardest Chemistry school to get into in California?

University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Chemistry program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Chemistry programs in the state is 61.3%.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Chemistry in Other States

New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Massachusetts New Jersey North Carolina Minnesota Michigan Georgia Illinois Florida View All →

Get Chemistry Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI analysis by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.