Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Product development chemist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a product development chemist. Product development chemists usually study chemistry, biology, or chemical engineering. 81% of product development chemists hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 510 real product development chemist resumes to see exactly what product development chemist education sections show.
The most common colleges for product development chemists are the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania State University.
There are also many online product development chemist courses to help get the education required to be a product development chemist.
What education do you need to become a product development chemist?
What degree do you need to be a product development chemist?
- Bachelor's, 81%
- Master's, 14%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Associate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 0%
What should I major in to become a product development chemist?
Most common colleges for product development chemists
| Product development chemist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University | 10.23% |
| University of Akron | 7.95% |
| University of Cincinnati | 7.95% |
| Purdue University | 6.82% |
| University of Notre Dame | 6.82% |
Best majors for product development chemists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry | 54.2% |
| 2 | Biology | 16.0% |
| 3 | Chemical Engineering | 6.4% |
| 4 | Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology | 3.6% |
| 5 | Business | 3.3% |
Best colleges for product development chemists
The best colleges for product development chemists are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A product development chemist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for product development chemists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become product development chemists.
1. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
5. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
8. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
20 best online courses for product development chemists
Advertising disclosure
1. Strategic Product Development
This course discusses how companies create new products that customers want while achieving their financial objectives. Learners begin by defining the product strategies necessary to ensure a company’s long-term growth. Learners then explore the different product development processes used by high-tech businesses today, such as Stage-Gate and Lean/Agile techniques. Learners conclude by illustrating the tools to build the high-performance teams that take the development process from concept...
2. Product Development & Systems Engineering
The complete Product Development & Systems Engineering course! Earn 25 contact hours AND prepare to take the INCOSE Exam...
3. 50 Personal Development And Personal Productivity Skills
Personal transformation to be a top-1% performer! Personal development, business productivity, and personal productivity...
4. Mechanical design and Product development process
Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...
5. Product Management Crash Course; IT Product Management
Product Management Essentials & Product Management Fundamentals to kick-start your career in Product Management...
6. Manufacturing Guide for Mechanical Product Development
Learn how everyday physical products are manufactured with no prior experience in engineering...
7. Product Management Marketing: Dekker's Product Marketing MBA
Be a Product Marketing Manager - Product Management : Product Manager MBA : Product to Market : Product Owner Launch GTM...
8. Insightful Customer Interviews for Product Managers
Direct conversations with real customers to gain insight, test product concepts, and drive product success...
9. Comprehensive Product management for Product managers
Become a great product manager with comprehensive product management Real world case study with JIRA & Confluence...
10. Product Management: Mastering Product Roadmaps 2023
A complete guide to building a roadmap that works for both your product team and your stakeholders...
11. Product Management 101
Learn to become a more strategic product manager - and have a greater impact on your company and your products...
12. Productivity for Mac Users: 10x Your Productivity
Shortcuts and Tools to 10x Your Productivity on Your Mac...
13. Improving software development productivity
Improving software development productivity. Practical techniques...
14. Music Production II - Music Production Workflow - COMPLETE!!
Learn to create a Music Production Workflow, and produce professional quality music within any Music Production DAW!...
15. Productivity Machine: Time Management & Productivity Hacks
Productivity & Time Management Strategies for Goal Setting, Eliminating Distractions, & Building Habits for Success...
16. Scrum Product Owner & Scrum Product Owner Certification
Introduction to Agile and Scrum Product Owner Role + Preparation to Product Owner Certification Tests + Mock Exam...
17. Product Management A-Z: Excel as a PM & Build great Products
Product Management course (with Live Case Exercises & inputs from PMs @Top Tech cos.)- Build n Grow products & Get Hired...
18. Product Management Certification+Agile Product Owner+Scrum
Overview of Agile product management+Online Certification PSPO I Certification Tips for Scrum Product Owner+User Stories...
19. Double Your Productivity and Get Important Things Done
Productivity Course: Boost Productivity. Get Things Done. Procrastination. Time Management. Productivity Tools...
20. Product Management for Maximum Impact
Product Management Videos, Insights, Success Metrics...
Top 10 most affordable universities for product development chemists
The most affordable schools for product development chemists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for product development chemists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for product development chemists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for product development chemists
The hardest universities for product development chemists to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for product development chemists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for product development chemists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for product development chemists
The easiest schools for product development chemists to get into are D'Youville College, barry university, and university of the incarnate word.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a product development chemist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for product development chemists.
1. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
6. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
7. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
8. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
9. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
10. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
Average product development chemist salary by education level
| Product development chemist education level | Product development chemist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $76,738 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,678 |
| Doctorate Degree | $90,018 |
Product development chemist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common life, physical, and social science questions.
Search for product development chemist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025