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 |
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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
121 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Residency
|
101 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
88 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
86 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
69 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
67 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
65 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
45 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
36 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Other Award
|
34 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
33 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
31 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
30 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
30 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
28 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
22 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Pasadena, California | Private | caltech.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
20 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Master's
|
14 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Socorro, New Mexico | Public | nmt.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Alfred University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Alfred, New York | Private | alfred.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Master's
|
8 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Residency
|
7 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
6 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
6 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
6 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
6 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
5 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) |
Master's
|
5 | Butte, Montana | Public | mtech.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
|
5 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Master's
|
4 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Duke University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Villanova University |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
Master's
|
4 | Rapid City, South Dakota | Public | sdsmt.edu |
| Snow College |
Other Award
|
4 | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
| Tuskegee University (TU) |
Master's
|
3 | Tuskegee, Alabama | Private | tuskegee.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | 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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