Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.6 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $41,000, growing to $88,560 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
7.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$644,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($738,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Materials Science & Engineering
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Baton Rouge
Petroleum Engineering
$41K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$41K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Baton Rouge — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Materials Science & Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baton Rouge.