chemistry phd acceptance rate

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Survey of Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry

By Joel Shulman

How does your chemistry Ph.D. program compare to others in terms of department size and student demographics? Requirements for the degree? Graduate student progression and support? Developing skills that go beyond knowledge of chemistry? Answers to these questions and many others can be gleaned from the Survey of Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry recently reported by the ACS Committee on Professional Training (CPT) . Highlights of the survey are given here.

View the full report

The primary objective of the CPT is to facilitate the maintenance and improvement of the quality of chemical education at the postsecondary level. Not only does the Committee develop and administer the guidelines that define high-quality undergraduate education, but it also produces resources such as the ACS Directory of Graduate Education and publishes data on undergraduate and graduate education. Approximately every ten years, CPT fields a survey of Ph.D. programs. The latest survey solicited data from all 196 Ph.D. programs in chemistry and received usable information (base year, 2007) from 139 of these programs.

Figure 1. Size Distribution of Ph.D. Programs

Program size and demographics of students

The 139 reporting Ph.D. programs are divided for purposes of comparison into three groups of approximately equal size according to the total number of graduate students in the program: 44 small (defined as 0 to 40 total graduate students), 46 medium (41 to 105 graduate students), and 49 large programs (106+ graduate students). The number of students in Ph.D. programs ranges from 0 to 394 (see Figure 1) with a total of 13,280 students. Eighteen departments have more than 200 students, accounting for more than one-third (4,460) of the total graduate students in chemistry. The 30 largest programs account for almost 50% of graduate students. The average program size is 96 students (and 23 faculty), while the median program size is 67 students.

Of the doctoral students in responding programs, 27.4% are women, 5.2% are underrepresented minorities, and 42.3% are international students (Table 1). Small programs tend to have a higher percentage of underrepresented minority students (averaging 7.8%), while large programs have a higher percentage of women (28.5%) and a lower percentage of international students (37.3%).

Table 1. Demographics of Graduate Students by Program Size

Requirements for degree (table 2).

Of course, a doctoral dissertation is required by all Ph.D. programs. Most (71%) graduate programs require entering graduate students to take placement exams, although this requirement tends to be less prevalent as program size increases. The average program requires a minimum of 20 credits (semester hours, corrected for programs on the quarter system) of coursework, a number that does not vary significantly by program size. In addition to course work and dissertation, 96% of programs require at least one of the following: cumulative examinations (58%), an oral preliminary exam (54%), a comprehensive oral exam (50%), and/or a comprehensive written exam (31%). All four of these exams are required by 7% of programs; 17% of programs require three; 43% of programs require two; and 28% require only one. Large programs require cumulative exams less often and oral exams more often than small or medium programs. Only four programs (3%) require students to pass a language exam for the Ph.D.

Table 2. Requirement in Ph.D. Program

Graduate student progression and support (table 3).

The mean time to the Ph.D. is 5.1 years, a number that varies neither by program size nor by public vs. private institution (data not shown). Most programs place a limit on the amount of time allowed to achieve a Ph.D. (average of 7.8 years) as well as on the number of years of departmental support allowed a student (average of 5.9 years). More than 80% of students choose a research advisor within six months of entering graduate school. A significant number of programs either require or permit laboratory rotations before a final advisor is selected.

Monetary support for Ph.D. students comes from teaching assistantships more often than from research assistantships at small and medium programs, while the reverse is true in large programs. There is wide variation in TA stipends, depending on both program size and geographic location. Most programs have a range of stipends, which on average run from $18,000 to about $20,000 per year. Teaching assistants at larger programs are more likely to teach discussion (recitation) sections than those in small or medium programs.

Table 3. Student Progression and Support in Ph.D. Programs

Developing student skills.

In addition to chemistry knowledge and laboratory skills, it is important that all Ph.D. chemists develop skills in areas such as critical thinking, oral and written communication, and teamwork. Toward this end, 74% of all programs require students to create and defend an original research proposal (Table 2). All but six programs require students to make presentations (exclusive of the thesis defense) to audiences other than their research group; the average number of required presentations is 2.4, with little variation by program size. When asked whether any graduate students receive student-skills training outside of formal course work, 67% responded that at least some students receive specific training in communications; 59% in ethics/scientific integrity; 43% in grant writing; 37% in mentoring; 37% in intellectual property/patents; and 18% in business/economics. Students in large programs are more likely to receive some training in these skill areas than are students in other programs.

The data from this CPT survey provide a snapshot of graduate student demographics, requirements for the degree, and progression and support in chemistry Ph.D. programs. Survey results highlight similarities and differences among small, medium, and large programs across the country.

Dr. Joel I. Shulman retired as The Procter & Gamble Company's Manager of Doctoral Recruiting and University Relations in 2001 and is now an adjunct professor of chemistry at the University of Cincinnati. He serves the ACS as a consultant for the Office of Graduate Education and the Department of Career Management and Development and as a member of the Committee on Professional Training.

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Chemistry: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="chemistry phd acceptance rate"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Doctoral program statistics.

Use this page to explore summary statistics for research doctoral programs administered by the Graduate School. Methodology and definitions are provided at the bottom of the page.   

For additional graduate statistics, survey results, and career outcomes data, see program metrics .

Methodology and Definitions

Admissions counts.

Applied, admitted and matriculated counts are reported for new, external applications only. Current students who transfer into a different graduate program at Cornell without submitting a new application are not counted here.

Individuals may defer enrollment and/or be admitted to a program that differs from the one to which they originally applied. This can cause admitted and matriculated counts to be higher than application counts in some fields. 

Admission cycles start in the summer and continue through the following spring. For example, the 2020-21 admissions year includes data from summer 2020 through spring 2021. Because these dashboards are updated annually in the fall, the most recent year will not include data from the spring.

Average Admit Rate

Admit rate is the percentage of applicants who were admitted. Highly selective programs tend to have low admit rates. The five year average provides a good indicator of typical admit rates.

Enrollment numbers are derived from the student enrollment snapshot that is captured the sixth week of each fall term. Only students who are enrolled on the census date are counted. Students on an approved leave of absence are not included.

Average Completion Rate

Completion rate is the percentage of entering doctoral students who successfully completed the degree. Completion rates are reported by entering cohort, which is defined by the first term in which a student is enrolled in their doctoral program, regardless of any prior enrollment in a master’s program. The cohorts included here entered their programs seven to twelve years ago, and thus have had adequate time to finish a doctoral degree.

Status of Students in Each Recent Entering Cohort

This graph shows the current status of students who began the doctoral program in each of the last ten academic years. Students listed as completed have received the doctoral degree. Students are considered current in their program if they are still actively pursuing the doctoral degree or are on an approved temporary leave of absence. Students listed as discontinued have either left the university without a degree or switched to a different type of degree program (in many cases a master’s degree).

Time to Degree (TTD)

Time-to-degree degree measures the time in years from the first day of a student’s initial enrollment in their doctoral program to the day of their degree conferral. Time-to-degree measures elapsed time only, not enrolled time. It does not stop and start if a student takes a leave of absence. For Master’s/PhD students, time-to-degree starts when they begin the PhD phase of their studies. If a student was enrolled in a master’s program prior to matriculating in the doctoral program, the separate time in the master’s program is not included. Because of this, time-to-degree may appear shorter in some doctoral programs where it is common to complete a master’s prior to matriculation in the doctoral program.

The median time to degree can be thought of as the “mid-point”, where half of the students completed in a time period that is less than or equal to this value. The median is not affected by extreme values or outliers. 

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Chemistry Graduate Admissions

Thank you for your interest in the Chemistry PhD Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More information about our PhD program is found on the Graduate Degrees in Chemistry  webpage.

Our application deadline for full consideration for the Fall 2025 semester is December 1, 2024, but we strongly encourage earlier submission to maximize opportunities for fellowships. Our admission cycle is on an annual basis, so there is no Spring semester admission.  Applications will open August 2024.

• Undergraduate Degree (must be the equivalent of a 4-year Bachelor's Degree in the U.S.)
• At least 25 semester hours in chemistry (properly distributed)
• GPA: 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is the minimum admission requirement for the Graduate College (however, Chemistry typically does not make offers to students with an undergraduate GPA below 3.5, unless they have a high graduate GPA or extensive research experience to compensate for a lower undergraduate GPA) 
• A completed online application (link below, in the application process section)
• Academic Statement (1,000 words max)
• Two Personal Statements (250 words max)
• Optional Personal Statements (250 words max)
• Three letters of reference
• Official Transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work (one transcript for each institution attended). Electronic transcripts must contain the name of the university/college, university/college seal, and/or signature of a registrar/dean. One or a combination of these features must be present, for the document to be considered a transcript. "Self-service, student versions of transcripts" and/or grade lists that students are able to obtain without submitting a request to their university/college  will not be accepted . 
•  GRE scores (general or subject) are not required. Please do not submit them.
• Minimum TOEFL: 103 overall, 24 on speaking subsection
• Minimum IELTS: 7 overall, 8 on speaking subsection, no less than 6 on any subsection

Your academic record and recommendations must be a strong indicator of your capability to pursue advanced study and research in chemistry.

A student who is currently enrolled in a graduate program at another institution must complete the degree that the student is currently pursuing before being considered for admission to our program. Only under exceptional circumstances will a student be admitted without a degree from their current institution. In all cases, we require the student to submit a complete application, including a statement from the applicant detailing the situation, along with a letter from the applicant's research advisor or department head. Any such student will be expected to begin our program as a first-year student, take all of our normal coursework, and join a research lab via our normal group-joining process.

Graduate College Application

• To apply online, please fill out the  Graduate College Application . 
• International applicants must upload a copy of their passport. Additionally, Proof of Funding documentation will be required for students requesting a F-1 or J-1 visa.
• You will be asked which research area specialization and program code you are applying to for admission; Degree Codes and research areas are listed below.  

Application Fees and Waivers

There is an application fee of $70 for US citizens and permanent residents and $90 for all other applicants. The fee must be paid by credit card at the time the online application is submitted. These fees are non-refundable.

Application fees are assessed by our Graduate College. As a result, individual departments are unable to waive the application fee. However, the Graduate College does offer several application fee waivers that you may be eligible to receive. Please follow this link for more information about application fee waivers offered through our Graduate College: Application Fee Waivers .

Program Codes

        10KS0335PHD — Chemistry-PhD         10KS0294MS — Teaching of Chemistry-MS

Fields of Specialization for the Chemistry PhD Program (10KS0335PHD)         ( Please list up to 3 areas on your applications under "Specialization ")

Research Areas: Analytical ,  Chemical Biology ,   Inorganic ,   Materials ,   Organic , and  Physical Chemistry .

Please contact us if you have any questions about the application process.

A large number of fellowships are awarded to graduate students in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois. These range from Departmental fellowships sponsored by chemical companies and private donations to national fellowships from various federal and private foundations. Details about specific opportunities can be found at the following Fellowship and Award Opportunities  webpage. 

Graduate Admissions flyer : information about the department, technology, facilities, and "where to start".

Corporate Engagement flyer : departmental highlights, research, ways to engage, and student information.

Research Area flyers: listing of faculty members along with their research interests.

Analytical Chemistry           Chemical Biology           Inorganic Chemistry          

Materials Chemistry           Organic Chemistry           Physical Chemistry  

The following webpage has a series of Lab Tour Videos for you to watch at your leisure. 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 109 Noyes Laboratory, MC-712, Box 57-1 505 South Mathews Avenue  Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: (217) 244-6245 Fax: (217) 244-7091 Email: [email protected]  

Graduate Programs

Chemistry phd.

The goal of the Chemistry PhD is to prepare students for careers in science as researchers and educators by expanding their knowledge of chemistry while developing their ability for critical analysis, creativity, and independent study. A high graduation rate in an average of just over five years can be attributed to the quality of applicants admitted, the flexibility of our program of study, the opportunity for students to begin research in the first year, and the affordability of education made possible by our generous financial support policies.

Program Overview

Programs of study are tailored to the needs of individual students, based on their prior training and research interests. However, progress to a degree is generally similar for all students. During the first year, students take courses, begin their teaching apprenticeships, choose research advisors, and embark on their thesis research; students whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency examination. Beginning the first summer, the emphasis is on research, although courses of special interest may be taken throughout a student's residency. In the second year, there is a departmental examination which includes a written research proposal and an oral defense of the research proposal. In the third year, students advance to candidacy for the doctorate by defending the topic, preliminary findings, and future research plans for their dissertation. Subsequent years focus on thesis research and writing the dissertation. Most students graduate during their fifth year.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities for graduate students are comprehensive and interdisciplinary, spanning inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, computational, and theoretical chemistry; surface and materials chemistry; and atmospheric and environmental chemistry. Please refer to the faculty pages for full descriptions of the ongoing research in our department. State-of-the-art facilities and laboratories support these research programs.

At UCSD, chemists and biochemists are part of a thriving community that stretches across campus and out into research institutions throughout the La Jolla and San Diego area, uniting researchers in substantive interactions and collaborations.

Special Training Programs

Interdisciplinary research and collaboration at UCSD is enhanced through a variety of training grants. These programs provide financial support for exceptional graduate and postdoctoral scholars and also unite researchers from across campus and throughout the La Jolla research community in special seminars, retreats, and courses. Doctoral students are usually placed on training grants in their second year or later.

• Molecular Biophysics Training Grant
• Contemporary Approaches to Cancer Cell Signaling and CommunicationBiochemistry of Growth Regulation and Oncogenesis
• Chemistry Biology Interfaces Training Grant
• Contemporary Approaches to Cancer Cell Signaling and Communication
• Interfaces Graduate Training Program
• Molecular Pharmacology Training Program
• UC San Diego MRSEC
• Quantitative Biology (qBio) Specialization

Teaching apprenticeships are a vital and integral part of graduate student training, and four quarters of teaching are required. See the Teaching Assistants page to apply. Students can gain experience teaching both discussion and laboratory sections. Excellence in teaching is stressed, and the department provides a thorough training program covering both fundamentals and special techniques for effective instruction. Further training is provided by the Teaching and Learning Commons on campus. Performance is evaluated every quarter, and awards are bestowed quarterly for outstanding teaching performance.

• Financial Support

Students in good academic standing receive a 12-month stipend; fees and tuition are also provided. Support packages come from a variety of sources, including teaching and research assistantships, training grants, fellowships, and awards. Special fellowships are awarded to outstanding students based on their admission files. See Ph.D. Program Support Policy for more information.

Health and Dental Plan

A primary health care program, major medical plan, and dental plan are among the benefits provided by the University's registration fee (see Graduate Student Health Insurance Program, GSHIP) . Minor illnesses and injuries can usually be treated at the Student Health Center . Counseling is provided free of charge through Counseling and Psychological Services .

Creative, bright, and motivated students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We admit for Fall quarter entrance only. Generally, the application will open in September and close is in December. The Admissions Committee reviews files individually and in comparison to others, and invitations to our visitation weekends are made around January. For those invited, in-person interviews will be on campus in either February or March. Those who receive the official admissions offer from t he Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs ( GEPA ) have until April 15th to make a decision.

See UCSD Ph.D. Admissions FAQ page for full information.

PostGraduate Placement

Graduates typically obtain jobs in academia or in the chemical industry. Many take postdoctoral research positions in academic institutions and national laboratories that lead to future academic or industrial careers at other prestigious institutions. Our faculty and Student Affairs staff provide career advising and job placement services. The department's Industrial Relations program assists students with placement in industrial positions. UCSD's Career Services Center provides many resources for students, including the chance to videotape yourself in a mock interview!

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Finding the Right Advisor

We do not immediately assign primary advisors to our first year grad students. Instead, our faculty members provide a month long series of research presentations to introduce new students to their work. Students also participate in-depth interactions with research groups and are encouraged to meet 1:1 with faculty before they submit their choices for research advisors later in the fall. Why do we go with this advisor selection model? First, we want our new students to discover all of the fascinating avenues of research that they could pursue, rather than limiting themselves to the area of interest or professors they listed on their admissions application. Secondly, we recognize that choosing a research advisor is one of the most important decisions a grad student makes. Since primary advisors most directly guide their students' studies and shape their understanding of research, we believe that helping students identify the professor best aligned with their goals and interests through an in-depth process is integral to ensuring their success, both during and after their studies.

A Focus on Success

Purdue Chemistry aims to drive our graduate students' professional success long after their degree has been earned. Professionalization workshops and job talks are offered regularly throughout the semester. The University's prestige among Big 10 schools attracts major corporate recruiters, who work with the Chemistry Department to hold info session and recruiting events, interview graduate students on campus, and promote available positions and internships. The Department also encourages its students to engage in entrepreneurial activities, such as the  Burton Morgan Competition  and the  Foundry . 

This is Purdue: Interview with Chemistry Professor Phillip Low

How will you make a difference in the world? Dr. Phillip Low, Purdue University's Robert C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, is making his difference through innovation in ovarian cancer treatment. Watch this episode of #ThisIsPurdue to hear Professor Low discuss his development of Cytalux, the recently FDA-approved drug that helps illuminate cancer cells during surgery.

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This PhD program in Chemistry is designed for students who have earned a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in chemistry or a related field who wish to develop as independent researchers by engaging in cutting-edge research while working closely with faculty who are renowned in their fields.

The program of study includes some course work, but the primary emphasis is on the completion of an original research project, its articulation in a well-written thesis, and its subsequent defense before the thesis (oral examination) committee. The PhD program is a full-time degree program that typically takes five years to complete. Financial support (teaching assistantships or research assistantships) is normally provided for students throughout their period of study if they are found to be making satisfactory progress toward their degree in accordance with departmental and university guidelines.

• Boston location ideally positioned in the heart of the Biotechnology Supercluster and Medical Hub
• Students eligible for financial support in the form of Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Research Assistantships (RAs)
• Use-inspired research projects in materials, energy, and drug discovery are closely linked with industry via partnerships and collaboration
• Departmental research funding is greater than $16 million, across multiple disciplinary foci
• Home to the Barnett Institute of Biological and Chemical Analysis, a premier analytical chemistry institute, and the Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy Technology
• Bachelor’s and Advanced-degree entry are possible

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

• Paul scherrer Institute
• Merck Research Laboratories
• Bristol-Meyers Squibb
• BioAnalytix
• Lang Pharmaceutical Nutrition
• Empiroko Inc.
• Stanford University
• Corden Pharmaceuticals
• Warner-Babcock
• Los Alamos National Laboratory

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended (Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE General Test– Not required
• Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Deadline for completed applications: December 1

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