Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Greensboro, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Greensboro, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Greensboro
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Greensboro, NC Overview
Greensboro, North Carolina (pop. 299,035) has 17 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $945/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Greensboro is approximately $45,500, growing to $98,280 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$7,000/yr
Private Tuition
$35,007/yr
Room & Board
$11,140/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,503/yr
Unemployment
4.9%
Graduation Rate
71%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Greensboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Greensboro's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Greensboro adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Greensboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Greensboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,000 | Private avg: $35,007
Greensboro avg aid: $14,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$72,560
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,650
vs HS diploma in Greensboro
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Greensboro
$746,440
Lifetime earnings premium ($819,000) minus total education cost ($72,560)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Greensboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Greensboro for Materials Science & Engineering
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
public
$7,337/yr
$29,348 total
North Carolina A&T State University
public
$6,662/yr
$26,648 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Guilford Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Greensboro
Greensboro offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Greensboro Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Greensboro
Petroleum Engineering
$46K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Greensboro — 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 Greensboro.