Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Norman, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Norman, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$93K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Norman
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Norman, OK Overview
Norman, Oklahoma (pop. 128,026) has 10 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $763/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Norman is approximately $43,000, growing to $92,880 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$6,023/yr
Private Tuition
$37,405/yr
Room & Board
$9,577/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,871/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Norman (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norman's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Norman adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Norman
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Norman tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,023 | Private avg: $37,405
Norman avg aid: $10,871/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$62,400
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,900
vs HS diploma in Norman
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norman
$711,600
Lifetime earnings premium ($774,000) minus total education cost ($62,400)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Norman
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norman for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Oklahoma
public
$6,023/yr
$24,092 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moore Norman Technology Center
$3,870/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Norman
Norman offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norman Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$42K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$41K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Norman
Petroleum Engineering
$43K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$43K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$69K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Norman — 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 Norman.