Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$162K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $75,000, growing to $162,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$1,197,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,350,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Materials Science & Engineering
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Philadelphia
Petroleum Engineering
$75K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$123K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$120K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$120K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$117K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$75K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.