What can you do with a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?

First, some facts. Of the Chemistry graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:

These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 73%, Chemistry graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities have a higher likelihood (+6%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

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Also, after graduating, only 20% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Chemistry graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
• What do Chemistry graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
• What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

View a random Chemistry graduate from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree. DEGREE INFO Graduated in 2018 from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry. No other secondary education since. JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION Product Development Scientist Surmodics Oct 2018 - Present As a Product Development Scientist at Surmodics, this position directly applies the chemistry knowledge and skills acquired during the Bachelor's degree, involving significant use of scientific principles in product development. ABOUT Experienced Production Scientist with a demonstrated history of working in the medical device industry. Skilled in Chemistry, Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Inventory Management, and Time Management. Strong operations professional with a Bachelor's of Science focused in Chemistry from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

What jobs can you get with a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

• Chemist II
• Hardlines/Fulfillment Operations Team Leader
• General Merchandise/Operations Team Leader
• Leadership Minor Intern
• Wilderness Trip Leader
• Wilderness Trips Coordinator
• Faculty Member
• Farmer
• Laborer
• Snowsports Instructor

From what I've gathered, graduates with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities have landed a mix of jobs, with a noticeable split between roles directly related to chemistry and those that aren't. The most common chemistry-related positions include Lab Analysts, Chemists (of varying levels), and research roles, like Analytical Chemists and Postdoctoral Researchers. These positions clearly leverage their chemistry education, allowing graduates to engage with chemical principles and practices daily. For example, roles at major companies like 3M, Cargill, and Boston Scientific require a strong foundation in chemistry, often focusing on product development, safety compliance, and analytical work that directly reflects their academic training.

However, there are also quite a few alumni who have taken paths that seem more removed from chemistry, venturing into positions in retail management, pharmacy support, or even environmental roles that don't fully utilize their chemistry skills. For instance, jobs like Team Leader at Target or positions as a Pharmacy Intern showcase responsibilities that don’t necessarily require in-depth chemistry knowledge. Overall, while many graduates are applying their chemistry expertise directly in relevant fields, a significant number have found themselves in roles that don’t connect back to their science background as strongly as one might hope. It seems like a mixed bag, highlighting that a chemistry degree can lead to varied career opportunities, some of which might stray far from the lab and the periodic table!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Chemistry graduates (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities):

What kind of career trajectories do Chemistry graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When we look at the career paths of graduates from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities who majored in Chemistry, there seems to be a solid trend toward roles that leverage their scientific backgrounds, especially early on. For many of them, the first job out of college is often positioned within a laboratory or analytical setting, such as lab analyst positions or roles at companies like Medtronic and Boston Scientific. These early experiences appear to be directly tied to their chemistry education, suggesting that they’re successfully stepping into relevant fields right after graduation.

As we move further down the timeline, around five to ten years post-graduation, it’s clear that many of these individuals advance into more specialized or managerial roles in the chemical or pharmaceutical industries, with titles like Chemist II and Global Clinical Supply Chain Manager. However, there are also a few outliers who took a different route entirely, such as moving into positions unrelated to chemistry, like wilderness leadership and farm labor. Overall, while many graduates seem to find promising careers within the chemistry realm, there’s a notable variety in career directions, which indicates that not every pathway is necessarily tied back to their degree. Some graduates are clearly thriving in their chemistry-related jobs, while others have chosen a more unconventional road that may not directly relate to their studies.

How hard is a Chemistry degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry can be pretty challenging, and that’s true for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities as well. The coursework tends to be rigorous, with a solid mix of lectures, lab work, and problem-solving, so you’ll need to be ready to dive deep into topics like organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical techniques. While some students might find certain aspects easier, like the math or the lab work, others can struggle with the heavy workload and the intensity of the science concepts. Overall, it kind of sits right about average in terms of difficulty, but definitely expect to put in some serious effort if you decide to go for it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Chemistry.

Do Chemistry graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities tend to make good money?

So, looking at these Chemistry grads from the University of Minnesota, it seems like they're generally doing pretty well in their careers, especially compared to many entry-level jobs out there. The ones who graduated earlier, like in 2012 and 2014, moved into roles that likely pay quite decent because they ended up at big players like 3M and Medtronic, which are known for good salaries and benefits. Even those who graduated in 2017 seem to be climbing the ladder, with roles at places like Takeda and Boston Scientific—again, companies that typically offer solid pay. On the other hand, some of the more recent graduates, especially those taking more unconventional paths like wilderness leadership, might not be raking in the same dough, but they seem to be doing what they enjoy. Overall, it looks like many of these folks have found decent jobs in the chemistry field that probably pay well, particularly as they gain more experience.

What buzzwords do Chemistry graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (this is across all Chemistry graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Minnesota-Twin Cities). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Chemistry?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Chemistry (ordered by the average relevance score of their Chemistry graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College	Score	Count
University of California, Santa Cruz	88	10
University of California, Davis	86	11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	85	19
Texas A&M University	83	11
Georgia State University	82	11
Purdue University	80	11
Virginia Commonwealth University	80	15
The Ohio State University	79	13
University of Pittsburgh	78	12
The University of Texas at Austin	76	15
Penn State University	75	11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	75	19
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	73	10
University of Wisconsin-Madison	70	12
University of Washington	67	15
Emory University	62	10
Florida International University	60	10
UC Santa Barbara	46	10
Texas Tech University	42	10