Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$96K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500, growing to $96,120 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$710,332
Lifetime earnings premium ($801,000) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Madison
Petroleum Engineering
$45K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.