Materials Engineering programs
CIP 1418 · Engineering · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
37 institutions report graduate earnings for Materials Engineering programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $93,464 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26× and 94% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, all 42 programs with a benchmark clear the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026).
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Master's | $146,629 n=16 | 94% 1yr | — | — | Above +95% | — |
| 2 | University of FloridaFL · Doctoral | $128,018 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +131% | — |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's | $121,420 n=21 | 96% 1yr | $20,500 | 0.17× | Above +62% | — |
| 4 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Master's | $119,694 n=20 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +95% | — |
| 5 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Master's | $119,694 n=20 | 100% 1yr | — | — | Above +95% | — |
| 6 | University of FloridaFL · Master's | $113,416 n=22 | 90% 1yr | — | — | Above +104% | — |
| 7 | University of DaytonOH · Master's | $111,351 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +77% | — |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Master's | $108,485 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +53% | — |
| 9 | Purdue University-Main CampusIN · Bachelor's | $107,557 n=33 | 100% 1yr | $22,111 | 0.21× | Above +187% | — |
| 10 | University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's | $106,547 n=32 | 73% 1yr | $7,500 | 0.07× | Above +177% | — |
| 11 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $100,599 n=22 | 100% 5yr | $17,000 | 0.17× | Above +162% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Bachelor's | $98,879 n=32 | 91% 5yr | $16,250 | 0.16× | Above +182% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $97,924 n=53 | 94% 5yr | $17,350 | 0.18× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Lehigh UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $97,904 n=17 | 90% 1yr | $26,324 | 0.27× | Above +160% | — |
| 15 | University of Maryland-College ParkMD · Bachelor's | $97,714 n=18 | — | $20,500 | 0.21× | Above +132% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $95,761 n=27 | 100% 5yr | $24,385 | 0.26× | Above +173% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Bachelor's | $95,314 n=22 | 94% 5yr | $19,485 | 0.20× | Above +124% | Clears 2/2 |
| 18 | Drexel UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $94,694 n=25 | 97% 5yr | $31,000 | 0.33× | Above +151% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | University of ConnecticutCT · Bachelor's | $93,464 n=41 | 90% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointCT · Bachelor's | $93,464 n=41 | 90% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusCT · Bachelor's | $93,464 n=41 | 90% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | University of Connecticut-StamfordCT · Bachelor's | $93,464 n=41 | 90% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusCT · Bachelor's | $93,464 n=41 | 90% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.29× | Above +121% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Bachelor's | $92,260 n=52 | 96% 5yr | $16,936 | 0.18× | Above +161% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Michigan Technological UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $92,070 n=35 | 87% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.28× | Above +163% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Winona State UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $91,528 n=28 | 89% 5yr | $22,000 | 0.24× | Above +129% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonWI · Bachelor's | $91,265 n=46 | 95% 5yr | $20,195 | 0.22× | Above +134% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $90,828 n=65 | 96% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.30× | Above +139% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's | $89,983 n=16 | 85% 1yr | $18,777 | 0.21× | Above +134% | — |
| 30 | North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Bachelor's | $89,968 n=34 | 89% 1yr | $21,111 | 0.23× | Above +162% | — |
| 31 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $89,913 n=25 | — | $23,557 | 0.26× | Above +144% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $87,779 n=28 | 89% 5yr | $13,875 | 0.16× | Above +160% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Washington State UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $86,145 n=23 | 76% 1yr | $28,750 | 0.33× | Above +102% | — |
| 34 | Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $86,084 n=41 | 95% 5yr | $19,500 | 0.23× | Above +134% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Clemson UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $85,883 n=46 | 90% 5yr | $25,246 | 0.29× | Above +150% | Clears 2/2 |
| 36 | University of KentuckyKY · Bachelor's | $84,796 n=16 | — | $26,064 | 0.31× | Above +144% | — |
| 37 | University of Alabama at BirminghamAL · Bachelor's | $83,985 n=18 | 100% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.32× | Above +144% | Clears 2/2 |
| 38 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $83,945 n=41 | 98% 5yr | $21,018 | 0.25× | Above +110% | Clears 2/2 |
| 39 | Iowa State UniversityIA · Bachelor's | $83,416 n=49 | 95% 5yr | $23,000 | 0.28× | Above +116% | Clears 2/2 |
| 40 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNY · Bachelor's | $82,947 n=24 | 94% 5yr | $23,250 | 0.28× | Above +118% | Clears 2/2 |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · Bachelor's | $82,131 n=20 | 100% 1yr | $27,000 | 0.33× | Above +111% | — |
| 42 | University of North TexasTX · Bachelor's | $78,250 n=16 | — | $24,000 | 0.31× | Above +119% | Clears 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $119,694 | 3 |
| Florida | $113,416 | 3 |
| California | $103,573 | 4 |
| Michigan | $95,761 | 3 |
| Washington | $95,314 | 3 |
| Connecticut | $93,464 | 5 |
States with at least 3 reporting Materials Engineering programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Materials Engineering programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Materials Engineering programs in this dataset are University of California-Los Angeles ($146,629), University of Florida ($128,018), University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($121,420). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Materials Engineering programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 0 of the 42 Materials Engineering programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.