Best Schools for Materials Engineering

Materials Engineering graduates earn a median of $91,570 within four years of graduating, ranking #19 out of 283 tracked majors — 46% above the median across all fields. There are 39 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,063 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Purdue University-Main Campus graduates earn $107,557 while University of North Texas graduates earn $78,250 — a $29,307 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Materials Engineering graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

Schools

$91,570

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#19

of 283 Majors

1,063

Graduates

Public vs Private: Materials Engineering

Public (32 schools)

$91,543

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (7 schools)

$91,848

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $305 more in early earnings on average for Materials Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Materials Engineering by State

Also by state: New York

Top Materials Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$100,599

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

2yr: $68,219 (31)

1yr: $62,746 (22)

Acceptance: 29.8%

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$97,904

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

2yr: $74,200 (13)

Acceptance: 29.3%

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$97,714

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

2yr: $66,325 (18)

1yr: $61,034 (25)

Acceptance: 44.8%

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$95,761

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

2yr: $69,338 (20)

1yr: $68,609 (29)

Acceptance: 83.9%

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$95,314

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

2yr: $70,680 (28)

Acceptance: 42.5%

#10

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$94,694

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

Winona State University

Winona, MN · Public

$91,528

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$89,983

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

1yr: $55,386 (18)

Acceptance: 41.6%

#22

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$89,913

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$87,779

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$86,145

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $61,524 (24)

Acceptance: 85.4%

#26

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$84,796

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 92.4%

#29

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public

$83,985

4yr Earnings

18 grads · small sample

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

$82,947

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · Public

$82,131

4yr Earnings

20 grads · small sample

1yr: $61,164 (21)

Acceptance: 88.4%

#34

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$78,250

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$68,778

2yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

$65,238

2yr Earnings

21 grads · small sample

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$58,221

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 46.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Manufacturing Engineering $67,653 Computer Science $67,635 Industrial Engineering $67,099 Metallurgical Engineering $66,313 Chemical Engineering $66,251 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering $64,886

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Materials Engineering?

Purdue University-Main Campus ranks #1 for Materials Engineering with median graduate earnings of $107,557 within four years of graduating. There are 39 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Materials Engineering graduates earn?

Materials Engineering graduates earn an average of $91,570 within four years of graduating. This is 46% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $78,250 to $107,557 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Materials Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Materials Engineering programs is 54.4%. The most selective program is at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a 4.7% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Materials Engineering?

Private Materials Engineering programs average $91,848 in early earnings vs $91,543 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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