15 BEST VALUE SMALL COLLEGES FOR A CHEMISTRY DEGREE

Mount St. Joseph University tops this list not only because it's the most affordable small college for chemistry majors, but also because it offers those majors a breadth of courses they may not be able to find at other schools its size. Beyond the typical undergraduate chemistry degree, MSJU also supports a Biochemistry major, a combined program in Chemistry and Mathematics, and a Natural Science major with a concentration in Chemistry. To complement their coursework, undergraduates also have the opportunity to work with high-tech equipment in on-campus labs as well as participate in co-op experiences with industrial and research corporations around Cincinnati.

Like other religious colleges, faculty at Oklahoma Christian University believe that the study of science and faith are mutually beneficial. In fact, OC maintains the view that students can use their knowledge of the natural world as a tool to become exemplary Christians in their communities. But religious matters aside, this college garners widespread appeal simply for being one of the most affordable colleges for a chemistry degree in the entire country. Undergraduates can major in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science, or Science Education. And while the coursework may vary, each of these programs share a common goal: to help students acquire a depth of technical knowledge while developing stable personal lives and an ethical approach to their work.

Yet another nationally ranked liberal arts college, Colby University boasts strengths in a broad range of academic disciplines. In particular, the Department of Chemistry stands out for its somewhat atypical concentrations, which include Biochemistry, Environmental Science, and the only combination Biochemistry/Cellular and Molecular Biology program on this affordable chemistry degrees ranking. The course catalog features a similarly unconventional selection of classes, including Chemistry for Citizens, The Science of Crime, Food and Drink: Everyday Biology and Chemistry, and Green Chemistry. In fact, graduates continue to reflect their school's signature eclecticism long after they leave campus by pursuing careers that span from medicine and dentistry to computer science and environmental law.

Bridgewater College's Department of Chemistry offers one of the most versatile academic selections on this top chemistry degrees ranking. In addition to the traditional chem major, the department also provides tracks in Applied Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Science, plus a special advising program for those who want to apply to pharmacy school. Regardless of specialty, all majors complete 53-54 credit hours in courses such as Physical Chemistry and Molecular Biology of the Cell. However, students in the Environmental Science track must also complete coursework in wildlife biology. Ultimately, the goal is for undergraduates to work toward self-designed independent studies as a way to prepare for the next phase of their careers, be it graduate school, industrial research, or consulting.

The Union College Chemistry Department lets undergraduates get their hands on state-of-the-art equipment in small classes and laboratory settings. The department boasts a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, research-grade mass spectrometers, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and a thermogravimetric analyzer. And while Union is clearly one of the best small colleges for a chemistry majors who want to play with expensive gadgets, it's also great for networking; the school encourages students to join its award-winning Chemistry Club, in which they can attend professional meetings and volunteer at local schools. Chemistry majors also have the opportunity to work alongside scientists and graduate students in Sicily at the National Research Council in Palermo.

Swarthmore College is one of the top liberal arts schools in the country, coming in 4th on U.S. News & World Report's ranking and 10th on Forbes magazine's ranking. And now that the school has landed on our list of affordable colleges for a chemistry degree, there should be no question as to the value that Swarthmore can offer budding scientists. Swarthmore's standard chemistry program consists of three tracks (Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Chemical Physics) while majors who are interested in teaching middle or high school science can opt for a separate course in Educational Studies and Chemistry.

Graduates of Hamilton College's chemistry program rave about the small class and lab sizes, which provide the opportunity for one-on-one mentorship between students and faculty. Hamilton offers programs in chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical physics and encourages undergraduates to get into the lab to perform research starting in their freshman year. And this isn't just busy work; members of this affordable small college chemistry program who dedicate sufficient time to their research projects could even end up as a co-authors on a scientific paper. Thanks to this emphasis on investigative learning, Hamilton's Department of Chemistry regularly produces alumni who find professional success as physicians, business analysts, executives, teachers, forensic scientists, and more.

LeTourneau University's chemistry program combines the study of the physical world with the belief that God created the universe. Rather than seeing these ideas as mutually exclusive, the faculty consider an exploration of the physical sciences as crucial to understanding humanity and its relationship to God. And it's easy to see that LeTourneau doesn't skimp on scientific coursework; its affordable undergraduate chemistry degree even offers distinct biological, physical, and chemical engineering concentrations. As if that weren't enough, LeTourneau also offers a degree in forensic chemistry (for those who would like to work in a crime lab) as well as chemistry teacher education programs for elementary, middle, and high school.

Bowdoin College's chemistry program encourages and ensures collaborative work among students and faculty, with coursework progressing steadily from guided to self-designed investigations. To facilitate their academic journey, Bowdoin has participants in this top small college chemistry program familiarize themselves right away with the most modern and sophisticated instruments on campus. Some of these high-tech gadgets include a Bruker multinuclear 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, a Varian Vista MPX inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometer, and an IonSpec HiRes Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Fourier Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-FTMS). With this kind of technology at their disposal, it's a no brainer that Bowdoin should be a top choice for any future chemist with an interest in experimental work.

The California Institute of Technology's Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering offers undergraduate degrees in both chemistry and chemical engineering, and the department's coursework covers an impressively wide variety of topics. This selection includes an especially rich assortment of traditionally-guided courses in areas like scientific writing and social media, which prepare chem majors to be successful in any number of contemporary career fields. But CalTech's real claim to fame as one of the best small college chemistry programs stems from its intense focus on undergraduate research and independent study, and most graduates transition directly into PhD programs at the world's most prestigious universities.