Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Saint Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Saint Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Saint Paul
Cost of Living
101.5
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Saint Paul, MN Overview
Saint Paul, Minnesota (pop. 311,527) has 11 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 101.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Saint Paul is approximately $50,750, growing to $109,620 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,171/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,478/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
47%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Saint Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Saint Paul's cost of living index of 101.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Saint Paul adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Saint Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Saint Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Saint Paul avg aid: $13,478/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$109,484
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,225
vs HS diploma in Saint Paul
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Saint Paul
$804,016
Lifetime earnings premium ($913,500) minus total education cost ($109,484)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Saint Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Saint Paul for Materials Science & Engineering
Saint Paul State University
public
$13,811/yr
$55,244 total
University of Saint Paul
public
$13,351/yr
$53,404 total
Saint Paul Institute of Technology
private
$43,387/yr
$173,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul Community College
$5,443/yr
Minnesota Technical College - Saint Paul
$5,156/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Saint Paul
Saint Paul offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Saint Paul Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$54K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$53K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Saint Paul
Petroleum Engineering
$51K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$51K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Saint Paul — 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 Saint Paul.