Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

77 Best Universities in California for Chemistry

Focusing specifically on Chemistry, our data science engine identified the 77 most influential universities in California. Based on 1.53M scholarly articles and 89.68M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Chemistry. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Chemistry

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Chemistry

#6 in United States #6 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Chemistry

#9 in United States #10 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#11 in United States #12 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

5

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Chemistry

#13 in United States #14 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Chemistry

#22 in United States #23 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Chemistry

#29 in United States #32 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

8

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Chemistry

#32 in United States #35 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

9

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Chemistry

#46 in United States #50 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

10

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Chemistry

#55 in United States #59 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Chemistry

#78 in United States #89 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Chemistry

#113 in United States #129 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Chemistry

#126 in United States #143 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Chemistry

#166 in United States #190 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Chemistry

#182 in United States #208 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

16

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Chemistry

#244 in United States #274 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

17

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Chemistry

#264 in United States #298 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

18

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Chemistry

#265 in United States #299 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

19

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Chemistry

#272 in United States #311 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

20

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Chemistry

#273 in United States #312 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

21

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Chemistry

#279 in United States #319 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

22

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Chemistry

#280 in United States #320 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

23

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Chemistry

#292 in United States #332 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

24

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Chemistry

#296 in United States #336 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

25

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Chemistry

#298 in United States #338 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

26

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Chemistry

#299 in United States #339 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

27

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Chemistry

#304 in United States #344 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

28

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Chemistry

#313 in United States #353 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

29

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Chemistry

#314 in United States #354 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

30

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Chemistry

#339 in United States #381 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

31

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Chemistry

#340 in United States #382 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

32

Claremont, CA

For Chemistry

#343 in United States #386 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

33

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Chemistry

#347 in United States #390 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

34

Duarte

Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

For Chemistry

#351 in United States #394 in North America

14% Acceptance

359 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

35

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Chemistry

#352 in United States #395 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

36

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Chemistry

#355 in United States #399 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

37

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Chemistry

#361 in United States #407 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

38

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Chemistry

#365 in United States #412 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

39

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Chemistry

#437 in United States #487 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

40

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Chemistry

#456 in United States #507 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

41

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Chemistry

#467 in United States #518 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

42

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Chemistry

#469 in United States #520 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

43

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Chemistry

#476 in United States #527 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

44

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Chemistry

#483 in United States #534 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

45

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Chemistry

#498 in United States #549 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

46

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Chemistry

#520 in United States #572 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

47

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Chemistry

#587 in United States #641 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

48

Rosemead

University of the West

For Chemistry

#598 in United States #653 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

49

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Chemistry

#617 in United States #672 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

50

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Chemistry

#626 in United States #681 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

51

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Chemistry

#627 in United States #682 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

52

Whittier

Whittier College

For Chemistry

#662 in United States #718 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

53

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Chemistry

#663 in United States #719 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

54

San Diego

Ashford University

For Chemistry

#717 in United States #775 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

55

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Chemistry

#740 in United States #799 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

56

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Chemistry

#764 in United States #824 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

57

San Diego

United States University

For Chemistry

#781 in United States #841 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

58

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Chemistry

#816 in United States #879 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

59

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Chemistry

#841 in United States #905 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

60

Redding

Simpson University

For Chemistry

#872 in United States #937 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

61

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Chemistry

#898 in United States #963 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

62

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Chemistry

#899 in United States #964 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

63

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Chemistry

#941 in United States #1006 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

64

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Chemistry

#963 in United States #1029 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

65

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Chemistry

#974 in United States #1041 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

66

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Chemistry

#980 in United States #1047 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

67

Cypress

Cypress College

For Chemistry

#1095 in United States #1163 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

68

Anaheim

Bethesda University

For Chemistry

#1108 in United States #1177 in North America

100% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

69

Whittier

Southern California University of Health Sciences

For Chemistry

#1116 in United States #1185 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,174 Net Price

70

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

For Chemistry

#1202 in United States #1275 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

71

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

For Chemistry

#1233 in United States #1307 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

72

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

For Chemistry

#1238 in United States #1312 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

73

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Chemistry

#1270 in United States #1346 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

74

Los Altos Hills

Foothill College

For Chemistry

#1297 in United States #1375 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

75

Anaheim

West Coast University – Orange County

For Chemistry

#1298 in United States #1376 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,926 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

76

Bakersfield

Bakersfield College

For Chemistry

#1304 in United States #1382 in North America

100% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

77

San Diego

Southern States University

For Chemistry

#1321 in United States #1399 in North America

95% Acceptance

41,137 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

$2,640 Net Price