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Best Schools for Materials Engineering

Materials Engineering graduates earn a median of $65,789 within two years of graduation, ranking #18 out of 292 tracked majors — 85% above the median across all fields. There are 34 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 1,000 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Pennsylvania graduates earn $76,460 while The University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduates earn $58,221 — a $18,239 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

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.

34
Schools
$65,789
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#18
of 292 Majors
1,000
Graduates

Public vs Private: Materials Engineering

Public (27 schools)
$65,206
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (7 schools)
$68,039
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,833 more in early earnings on average for Materials Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Materials Engineering by State

Connecticut
5 schools
$61,303
Pennsylvania
3 schools
$71,420
Michigan
3 schools
$71,516
New York
2 schools
$66,884
Illinois
2 schools
$64,773
Minnesota
2 schools
$62,925
Ohio
1 schools
$71,015
Washington
1 schools
$70,680

Top Materials Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$76,460
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 5.9%
#2
L

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$74,200
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 29.3%
#3
M

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

$73,635
2yr Earnings
1yr: $67,484
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 87.9%
#4
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$71,575
2yr Earnings
1yr: $73,854
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 17.9%
#5
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$71,015
2yr Earnings
1yr: $67,817
Grads: 61
Acceptance: 50.8%
#6
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$70,680
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 42.5%
#7
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$69,338
2yr Earnings
1yr: $68,609
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 83.9%
#8
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$68,778
2yr Earnings
1yr: $74,526
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 8.2%
#9
P

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public

$68,499
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,257
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 50.3%
#10
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$68,219
2yr Earnings
1yr: $62,746
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 29.8%
#11
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$67,660
2yr Earnings
1yr: $70,098
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 24.0%
#12
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$66,941
2yr Earnings
1yr: $64,892
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 43.4%
#13
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$66,821
2yr Earnings
1yr: $66,522
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 90.2%
#14
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$66,541
2yr Earnings
1yr: $64,436
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 43.7%
#15
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$66,325
2yr Earnings
1yr: $61,034
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 44.8%
#16
G

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$65,387
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,159
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 16.5%
#17
M

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

$65,238
2yr Earnings
1yr: $80,203
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 4.7%
#18
U

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, AL · Public

$64,990
2yr Earnings
1yr: $73,616
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 88.4%
#19
R

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private

$64,990
2yr Earnings
1yr: $67,716
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 58.5%
#20
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$63,997
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,942
Grads: 21
Acceptance: 72.5%
#21
D

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$63,600
2yr Earnings
1yr: $59,744
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 77.5%
#22
W

Winona State University

Winona, MN · Public

$63,217
2yr Earnings
1yr: $66,265
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 68.5%
#23
N

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private

$63,005
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 7.1%
#24
I

Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public

$63,005
2yr Earnings
1yr: $66,475
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 89.1%
#25
U

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public

$62,632
2yr Earnings
1yr: $60,883
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 77.0%
#26
C

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

$62,012
2yr Earnings
1yr: $63,207
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 38.0%
#27
V

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$61,814
2yr Earnings
1yr: $60,906
Grads: 61
Acceptance: 57.0%
#28
N

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

$61,516
2yr Earnings
1yr: $53,714
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 39.9%
#29
U

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,167
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 53.9%
#30
U

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,167
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 87.0%
#31
U

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,167
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 86.5%
#32
U

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,167
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 80.2%
#33
U

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr: $69,167
Grads: 40
Acceptance: 86.5%
#34
T

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public

$58,221
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 46.0%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Computational Science $67,660 Manufacturing Engineering $67,653 Industrial Engineering $67,414 Chemical Engineering $66,453 Metallurgical Engineering $66,313 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering $64,886

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Materials Engineering?
University of Pennsylvania ranks #1 for Materials Engineering with median graduate earnings of $76,460 within two years. There are 34 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Materials Engineering graduates earn?
Materials Engineering graduates earn an average of $65,789 within two years of graduation. This is 85% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $58,221 to $76,460 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 52.6%. 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 $68,039 in early earnings vs $65,206 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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