Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Omaha, NE — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Omaha, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$94K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.5 yrs
in Omaha
Cost of Living
87
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Omaha, NE Overview
Omaha is one of Nebraska's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 33,866. Public tuition averages $8,268/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 Omaha is approximately $43,500, growing to $93,960 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$8,268/yr
Private Tuition
$26,461/yr
Room & Board
$12,792/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,593/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
56%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Omaha (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Omaha's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Omaha adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Omaha
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Omaha tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,268 | Private avg: $26,461
Omaha avg aid: $11,593/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,240
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,050
vs HS diploma in Omaha
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Omaha
$698,760
Lifetime earnings premium ($783,000) minus total education cost ($84,240)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Omaha
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Omaha for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Nebraska at Omaha
public
$8,268/yr
$33,072 total
Creighton University
private
$44,146/yr
$176,584 total
Bellevue University
private
$8,775/yr
$35,100 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metropolitan Community College Omaha
$3,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Omaha
Omaha offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Omaha Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Nebraska Cities
Other Engineering Majors in Omaha
Petroleum Engineering
$44K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$44K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$70K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$70K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$68K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Omaha — 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 Omaha.