Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.8 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $40,000, growing to $86,400 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
7.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$626,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($720,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Materials Science & Engineering
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lake Charles
Petroleum Engineering
$40K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Lake Charles.