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Water chemist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a water chemist. Water chemists usually study chemistry, biology, or biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology. 73% of water chemists hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 119 real water chemist resumes to see exactly what water chemist education sections show.

The most common colleges for water chemists are the Michigan Technological University and the Michigan Technological University.

There are also many online water chemist courses to help get the education required to be a water chemist.

What education do you need to become a water chemist?

What degree do you need to be a water chemist?

The most common degree for water chemists is bachelor's degree, with 73% of water chemists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 14% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 73%
  • Master's, 14%
  • Associate, 6%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a water chemist?

You should major in chemistry to become a water chemist. 39% of water chemists major in chemistry. Other common majors for a water chemist include biology and biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology.

Most common colleges for water chemists

Water chemists often get their degrees at Michigan Technological University, Ohio State University, and Ball State University. Here are the most common colleges for water chemists in the US based on their resumes.
Water chemist common collegePercentages
Michigan Technological University6.90%
Ohio State University6.90%
Ball State University6.90%
Towson University6.90%
Illinois State University6.90%

Best majors for water chemists

Best colleges for water chemists

The best colleges for water chemists are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A water 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 water 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 water chemists.

1. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

7. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

8. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

20 best online courses for water chemists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for water chemists

The most affordable schools for water chemists are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and university of south florida.

If the best universities for water 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 water chemists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

3. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for water chemists

The hardest universities for water chemists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for water 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 water 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

5. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

9. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

10. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for water chemists

The easiest schools for water chemists to get into are D'Youville College, barry university, and oklahoma wesleyan university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a water 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 water 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. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

6. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

9. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

10. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA • Private

Admissions rate

85%

SAT average

1,053

Average water chemist salary by education level

According to our data, water chemists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $71,983 annually. Water chemists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $60,334.
Water chemist education levelWater chemist salary
Master's Degree$60,334
Bachelor's Degree$51,650
Doctorate Degree$71,983

Water chemist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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