Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Evansville, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Evansville, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Evansville
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Evansville, IN Overview
Evansville, Indiana (pop. 117,298) has 10 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $974/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Evansville is approximately $43,000, growing to $92,880 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,448/yr
Private Tuition
$42,316/yr
Room & Board
$11,425/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,482/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
57%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Evansville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Evansville's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Evansville adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Evansville
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Evansville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,448 | Private avg: $42,316
Evansville avg aid: $12,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,492
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,900
vs HS diploma in Evansville
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Evansville
$694,508
Lifetime earnings premium ($774,000) minus total education cost ($79,492)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Evansville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Evansville for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Evansville
private
$42,316/yr
$169,264 total
University of Southern Indiana
public
$8,448/yr
$33,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Evansville
Evansville offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Evansville Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$47K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$52K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
South Bend, IN
$45K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$53K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$50K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$42K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$47K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$42K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Evansville
Petroleum Engineering
$43K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$69K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Evansville — 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 Evansville.