Best colleges for chemistry in California

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in chemistry, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for chemistry in California63 schools

63 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in California.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in chemistry, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in California
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
2
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
3
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
4
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
5
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
5
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B · Top 46%
7
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
8
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+
9
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
10
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
11
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B · Top 47%
12
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B-
13
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A · Top 5%
14
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B-
15
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
16
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
17
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+
18
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+
19
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A · Top 5%
20
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 7% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+
21
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B
22
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+
23
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
24
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
25
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in chemistry
- Value grade C+

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
California Institute of Technology	$16,075	—	$128,566	94%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
Pomona College	$19,285	$11,782	$77,779	93%
Claremont McKenna College	$28,849	$13,500	$104,736	91%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
Harvey Mudd College	$35,924	$25,000	$138,687	92%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
University of California-Irvine	$14,251	$15,000	$80,735	87%
Scripps College	$36,294	$13,500	$77,539	83%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$16,665	$18,500	$90,768	86%
Santa Clara University	$50,062	$19,162	$109,183	88%
University of California-Santa Barbara	$16,109	$13,993	$74,915	83%
University of California-Davis	$14,741	$13,000	$80,838	86%
Occidental College	$38,263	$23,000	$75,951	81%
Loyola Marymount University	$48,381	$19,500	$78,349	79%
San Diego State University	$15,364	$15,000	$64,909	76%
Pepperdine University	$58,098	$23,510	$82,939	83%
University of San Diego	$30,365	$22,940	$86,522	84%
Chapman University	$46,555	$20,500	$70,070	82%
University of the Pacific	$25,447	$19,500	$78,445	69%
California State University-Long Beach	$10,440	$14,289	$64,403	69%
Dominican University of California	$35,333	$27,000	$84,713	78%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for chemistry in California

How this list is made

California Institute of Technology

Stanford University

Pomona College

Claremont McKenna College

University of California-Berkeley

University of Southern California

University of California-Los Angeles

Harvey Mudd College

University of California-San Diego

University of California-Irvine

Scripps College

Pitzer College

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Santa Clara University

University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Davis

Occidental College

Loyola Marymount University

San Diego State University

Pepperdine University

University of San Diego

Chapman University

University of the Pacific

California State University-Long Beach

Dominican University of California

Compare cost and outcomes

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