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Materials Engineering

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#1 #1 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA With 5 schools, a college, 34 departments, and 44 undergraduate degrees, MIT has plenty to offer the university student. The schools include Engineering, Science, Sloan School of Management, Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and Architecture and Urban Planning (which was the first of its kind in the U.S.)....view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 24 SAT Score 1,510–1,590 Median Starting Salary $60,975
#2 #2 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA Every year, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus awards around 1021 degrees to students studying Computer and Information Sciences, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 14% Annual Degrees Awarded 52 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Median Starting Salary $64,130
#3 #3 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Computer Engineering, General, and Accounting....view more Acceptance Rate 42% Annual Degrees Awarded 92 SAT Score 1,380–1,530 Median Starting Salary $66,495
#4 #4 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Each year, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo awards around 689 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 31% Annual Degrees Awarded 46 SAT Score 1,240–1,450 Median Starting Salary $68,355
#5 #5 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA The popular choices for majors at Caltech are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, General, Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The school has six divisions, all with emphasis on science and engineering, which include 24 majors and 6 minors....view more Acceptance Rate 3% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,540–1,590 Median Starting Salary $59,465
#6 #6 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI At the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Economics, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 16% Annual Degrees Awarded 44 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Median Starting Salary $66,055
#7 #7 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. University of Florida Gainesville, FL At the University of Florida, the most popular majors students pursue are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General. In fact, the University of Florida grants 616 degrees per year to Biology/Biological Sciences, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 24% Annual Degrees Awarded 58 SAT Score 1,330–1,480 Median Starting Salary $62,959
#8 #8 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Each year, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grants about 526 degrees to those majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Management Science, Finance, General, and Mechanical Engineering....view more Acceptance Rate 55% Annual Degrees Awarded 53 SAT Score 1,290–1,450 Median Starting Salary $70,954
#9 #9 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN At Purdue University-Main Campus, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and General. In fact, Purdue University-Main Campus awards 521 degrees every year to graduating Computer Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 50% Annual Degrees Awarded 56 SAT Score 1,220–1,490 Median Starting Salary $69,479
#10 #10 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S. North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Each year, North Carolina State University at Raleigh grants about 918 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, and Computer Science....view more Acceptance Rate 42% Annual Degrees Awarded 39 SAT Score 1,240–1,450 Median Starting Salary $66,835
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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Institution	Scaled Score	Acceptance Rate	Annual Degrees Awarded	SAT Score	Median Starting Salary
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA With 5 schools, a college, 34 departments, and 44 undergraduate degrees, MIT has plenty to offer the...view more	100	5%	24	1,510 - 1,590	$60,975
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA Every year, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus awards around 1021...view more	96	14%	52	1,370 - 1,530	$64,130
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the three most popular...view more	93	42%	92	1,380 - 1,530	$66,495
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Each year, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo awards...view more	88	31%	46	1,240 - 1,450	$68,355
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA The popular choices for majors at Caltech are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, General,...view more	83	3%	6	1,540 - 1,590	$59,465
University of Florida Gainesville, FL At the University of Florida, the most popular majors students pursue are...view more	81	24%	58	1,330 - 1,480	$62,959
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI At the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the three most popular college...view more	81	16%	44	1,370 - 1,530	$66,055
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Each year, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grants about...view more	81	55%	53	1,290 - 1,450	$70,954
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN At Purdue University-Main Campus, the three most popular college majors...view more	80	50%	56	1,220 - 1,490	$69,479
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC Each year, North Carolina State University grants about 918 degrees to...view more	78	42%	39	1,240 - 1,450	$66,835

About Materials Engineering

Materials Engineering programs prepare individuals to apply mathematical and materials science principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and related processes used in manufacturing in a wide variety of settings; the synthesis of new industrial materials, including marrying and bonding composites; analysis of materials requirements and specifications; and related problems of system design dependent on materials factors.

Of the 1,298 Materials Engineering degrees granted each year at the Bachelors degree level, 65% percent of whom are men and the other 35% percent are women. Did you know that California has more students being awarded a degree in Materials Engineering than any other state? In fact, California awarded 176 degrees last year! The average starting salary for an undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering is $64,763.

Popularity of Materials Engineering Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Materials Engineering degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

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Careers

The highest paying careers for Materials Engineering majors include Architectural and Engineering Managers, Materials Engineers and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. However, something else to consider is how many job openings there currently is. Careers that are in high need that a degree in Materials Engineering can prepare you for are Architectural and Engineering Managers, Cost Estimators and Materials Engineers.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Materials Engineering majors.

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Career	Median Salary	Average Annual Job Openings	Employment 2022	Employment 2032	% Change
Architectural and Engineering Managers Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers	$167,740	6,364	94,302	98,139	4%
Materials Engineers	$108,310	828	12,309	12,972	5%
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary	$106,120	651	7,234	7,902	9%
Cost Estimators	$77,070	5,976	76,824	74,666	-3%

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Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Materials Engineering majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

1,298

Female Students

459 (35%)

Male Students

839 (64%)

White (690, 53%)

Asian (178, 14%)

Hispanic or Latino (168, 13%)

U.S. Nonresident (122, 9%)

Two or more races (68, 5%)

Black or African American (48, 4%)

Race/ethnicity unknown (22, 2%)

American Indian or Alaska Native (1, <1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (1, <1%)

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Materials Engineering

#1 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

5%

24

1,510–1,590

$60,975

#2 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

14%

52

1,370–1,530

$64,130

#3 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

42%

92

1,380–1,530

$66,495

#4 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

31%

46

1,240–1,450

$68,355

#5 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

3%

6

1,540–1,590

$59,465

#6 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

16%

44

1,370–1,530

$66,055

#7 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

24%

58

1,330–1,480

$62,959

#8 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

55%

53

1,290–1,450

$70,954

#9 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

50%

56

1,220–1,490

$69,479

#10 Best College for Materials Engineering in the U.S.

42%

39