Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Materials Science & Engineering students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Fort Collins is approximately $63,000, growing to $136,080 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,900
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$1,006,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,134,000) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for Materials Science & Engineering
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Fort Collins
Petroleum Engineering
$63K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$63K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$103K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$63K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$101K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$101K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$98K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$63K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.