Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$111K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Charleston
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Charleston, SC Overview
Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $51,500, growing to $111,240 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$13,659/yr
Private Tuition
$29,969/yr
Room & Board
$12,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,774/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
62%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Charleston
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969
Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,084
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Charleston
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Charleston
$823,916
Lifetime earnings premium ($927,000) minus total education cost ($103,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Charleston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Charleston for Materials Science & Engineering
College of Charleston
public
$12,622/yr
$50,488 total
The Citadel
public
$14,696/yr
$58,784 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trident Technical College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Charleston
Charleston offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other Engineering Majors in Charleston
Petroleum Engineering
$52K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$84K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$82K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Charleston — 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 Charleston.