Materials Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Materials Engineering is a dynamic, interdisciplinary field focused on the discovery, design, and optimization of advanced materials used across industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and biomedical technology. This program equips students with the scientific and technical expertise to solve complex challenges related to material performance, durability, and sustainability in real-world applications.
- Materials Science Fundamentals: Core principles governing the structure, properties, and behavior of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites at atomic and macroscopic levels.
- Materials Synthesis and Processing: Techniques for creating new materials and refining manufacturing processes, including solidification, powder metallurgy, and additive manufacturing.
- Composite Materials Engineering: Advanced methods for designing, fabricating, and analyzing multi-material systems, including fiber-reinforced and hybrid composites.
- Mechanical and Thermal Properties Analysis: Evaluation of strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability under varying environmental conditions.
- Failure Analysis and Reliability Engineering: Systematic investigation of material degradation, fracture mechanisms, and long-term performance to enhance product safety and lifespan.
- Design for Manufacturability and Sustainability: Integration of material selection with system-level design, emphasizing efficiency, recyclability, and environmental impact.
Materials Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Materials Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Materials Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Materials Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 492,550 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Materials Engineers 17-2131 | $108,310 | $68,040 - $172,000 | 22,770 | $52.07 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Cost Estimators 13-1051 | $77,070 | $46,330 - $128,640 | 219,530 | $37.05 |
Salary Comparison
Materials Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $98,325 in Nebraska to $135,778 in California—a 38% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New Mexico, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 492,550 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Materials Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Materials Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Materials Engineering is found at Texas A & M University, College Station (121 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (114 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (113 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (113 graduates), and University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (107 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,105 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
|
121 |
SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
114 |
SAT: 1330-1530 ACT: 28-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
113 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
113 |
SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34 |
West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
107 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Residency
|
101 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
101 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
88 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
86 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
83 |
SAT: 1480-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
76 | N/A | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
74 |
SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
69 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
67 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
65 |
SAT: 1240-1420 ACT: 27-32 |
Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
63 |
SAT: 1300-1460 ACT: 28-32 |
Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | N/A | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
59 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52 | N/A | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52 |
SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52 |
SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
45 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
44 | N/A | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
39 |
SAT: 1190-1340 ACT: 25-31 |
Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
38 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
37 |
SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
36 |
SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 19-27 |
Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
36 |
SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34 |
Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1120-1330 ACT: 25-31 |
Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1230-1390 ACT: 28-32 |
Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Other Award
|
34 |
SAT: 880-1110 ACT: 17-23 |
Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
33 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
33 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
31 | N/A | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
30 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
30 |
SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29 |
Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 21-28 |
Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
30 | N/A | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
28 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27 |
SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33 |
Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
25 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
25 |
SAT: 1330-1500 ACT: 30-34 |
Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
25 |
SAT: 1180-1398 ACT: 22-29 |
Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
24 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 32-35 |
Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
23 |
SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
22 |
SAT: 1240-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
22 |
SAT: 1320-1470 ACT: 29-33 |
Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 |
SAT: 980-1250 ACT: 19-25 |
Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | N/A | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 |
SAT: 1130-1400 ACT: 22-30 |
Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 | N/A | Pasadena, California | Private | caltech.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
20 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 |
SAT: 1195-1370 ACT: 26-31 |
Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | N/A | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19 |
SAT: 1350-1490 ACT: 31-33 |
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
18 | N/A | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
18 | N/A | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
17 | N/A | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
15 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
15 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-28 |
Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14 |
SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33 |
Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
14 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
14 |
SAT: 870-1090 ACT: 17-23 |
El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26 |
Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13 |
SAT: 1180-1410 ACT: 25-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 |
SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32 |
Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 |
SAT: 1040-1290 ACT: 20-28 |
Socorro, New Mexico | Public | nmt.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
10 | N/A | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Alfred University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
10 |
SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 24-31 |
Alfred, New York | Private | alfred.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
10 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34 |
Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
9 |
SAT: 990-1230 ACT: 18-26 |
Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | ACT: 21-27 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Master's
|
8 | N/A | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
8 |
SAT: 1170-1410 ACT: 25-32 |
Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Residency
|
7 |
SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26 |
Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 913-1230 ACT: 17-25 |
Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | ACT: 18-24 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
6 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Doctorate (R)
|
6 |
SAT: 980-1190 ACT: 19-26 |
San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
5 | N/A | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
5 |
SAT: 1390-1510 ACT: 31-33 |
New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) |
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 18-25 |
Butte, Montana | Public | mtech.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
|
5 |
SAT: 1210-1470 ACT: 25-32 |
Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 24-31 |
Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1128-1335 ACT: 23-28 |
Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 1150-1378 ACT: 25-31 |
Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 1370-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32 |
Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 20-27 |
Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Villanova University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 |
SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 23-29 |
Rapid City, South Dakota | Public | sdsmt.edu |
| Snow College |
Other Award
|
4 | N/A | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
| Tuskegee University (TU) |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 995-1255 ACT: 18-26 |
Tuskegee, Alabama | Private | tuskegee.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
3 |
SAT: 1050-1220 ACT: 21-28 |
Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Materials Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Materials Engineering degree?
Salaries for Materials Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Materials Engineers earn around $108,310. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,778 compared to $98,325 in Nebraska. Approximately 492,550 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Materials Engineering programs?
Currently 112 accredited institutions offer Materials Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Texas A & M University, College Station (121 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (114 graduates), and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (113 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Materials Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,170 in 2010 to a peak of 3,485 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,129 in 2023-24. This represents a 44% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Materials Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Materials Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 492,550 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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