Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Little Rock, AR — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Little Rock, AR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Little Rock
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Little Rock, AR Overview
Little Rock is one of Arkansas's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 18,659. Public tuition averages $9,312/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 Little Rock is approximately $42,500, growing to $91,800 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$13,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,863/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,402/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Little Rock (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Little Rock's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Little Rock adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Little Rock
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Little Rock tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $13,320
Little Rock avg aid: $15,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,700
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,750
vs HS diploma in Little Rock
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Little Rock
$672,300
Lifetime earnings premium ($765,000) minus total education cost ($92,700)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Little Rock
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Little Rock for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Philander Smith University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pulaski Technical College
$3,800/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Little Rock
Little Rock offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Little Rock Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Arkansas Cities
Fayetteville, AR
$45K starting · COL 89
4 colleges
Fort Smith, AR
$39K starting · COL 78.5
4 colleges
Springdale, AR
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Jonesboro, AR
$41K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Rogers, AR
$44K starting · COL 88.2
3 colleges
Conway, AR
$42K starting · COL 84.5
3 colleges
North Little Rock, AR
$43K starting · COL 86.6
3 colleges
Bentonville, AR
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Little Rock
Petroleum Engineering
$43K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$70K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$68K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$68K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Little Rock — 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 Little Rock.