Best Colleges for Materials Engineering

Materials engineering graduates command strong starting salaries, with average earnings of $65,789 annually, reflecting high demand for professionals who develop and improve metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites across industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics. When evaluating programs, students should prioritize schools with well-equipped laboratories, research opportunities in nanomaterials or biomaterials, and strong industry partnerships that provide internships and job placement. Look for faculty conducting cutting-edge research and curricula that balance theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. With only 34 schools offering this specialized major, choosing the right program is crucial for launching a successful career in this evolving field that bridges chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Schools Ranked

$67,470

Avg. Program Earnings

83.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$76,460	96.8%	private-nonprofit
2	Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	$74,200	89.2%	private-nonprofit
3	Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan	$73,635	68.7%	public
4	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan	$71,575	93.2%	public
5	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$71,015	87.7%	public
6	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$70,680	83.7%	public
7	Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan	$69,338	82.2%	public
8	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$68,778	95.1%	private-nonprofit
9	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$68,499	83.1%	public
10	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California	$68,219	85.2%	public
11	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$67,660	91.5%	public
12	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$66,941	89.3%	public
13	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$66,821	67.8%	public
14	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$66,541	84.9%	public
15	University of Maryland-College Park College Park, Maryland	$66,325	88.6%	public
16	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, Georgia	$65,387	92.3%	public
17	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$65,238	96.1%	private-nonprofit
18	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$64,990	83.2%	private-nonprofit
19	University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama	$64,990	62.4%	public
20	University of North Texas Denton, Texas	$63,997	59.6%	public
21	Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$63,600	77.1%	private-nonprofit
22	Winona State University Winona, Minnesota	$63,217	60.9%	public
23	Iowa State University Ames, Iowa	$63,005	75.5%	public
24	Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois	$63,005	95.9%	private-nonprofit
25	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$62,632	84.8%	public