Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Corpus Christi, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Corpus Christi, TX. 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
6.7 yrs
in Corpus Christi
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Corpus Christi, TX Overview
Corpus Christi is one of Texas's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 19,872. Public tuition averages $9,426/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Corpus Christi is approximately $41,000, growing to $88,560 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$9,426/yr
Private Tuition
$25,421/yr
Room & Board
$11,163/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,317/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
68%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Corpus Christi (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Corpus Christi'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.Corpus Christi adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Corpus Christi
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Corpus Christi tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,426 | Private avg: $25,421
Corpus Christi avg aid: $12,317/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,356
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,300
vs HS diploma in Corpus Christi
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Corpus Christi
$655,644
Lifetime earnings premium ($738,000) minus total education cost ($82,356)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Corpus Christi
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Corpus Christi for Materials Science & Engineering
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
public
$9,426/yr
$37,704 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Del Mar College
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Corpus Christi Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Corpus Christi
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 Corpus Christi — 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 Corpus Christi.