Materials Science & Engineering Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Study of the properties and applications of materials including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$108K
salary
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
2.5%
rate
Materials Science & Engineering Overview
Study of the properties and applications of materials including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites.
Category
Engineering
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
65%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
12%
Lifetime Premium
$900K
Female Graduates
28%
Materials Science & Engineering Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$20,700
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$20,700
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$879,300
Lifetime earnings premium ($900,000) minus net degree cost ($20,700)
Materials Science & Engineering Salary Progression
Common Materials Science & Engineering Careers
Materials Engineer
R&D Engineer
Metallurgist
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Materials Science & Engineering
#1
MIT
#2
Stanford
#3
Northwestern
#4
UC Berkeley
#5
Georgia Tech
Related Majors
Materials Science & Engineering Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Materials Science & Engineering Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for materials science & engineering programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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