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Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Santa Clarita, CA — Salary & ROI 2026

Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Santa Clarita, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$74K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$160K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

5.6 yrs

in Santa Clarita

Cost of Living

148.1

index (100 = avg)

Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Clarita, CA Overview

Santa Clarita, California (pop. 228,673) has 9 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 148.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,100/month. Materials Science & Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Metallurgy and Polymer Science. The adjusted starting salary in Santa Clarita is approximately $74,050, growing to $159,948 by mid-career.

Category

Engineering

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$14,500/yr

Private Tuition

$42,000/yr

Room & Board

$16,381/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$11,814/yr

Unemployment

5.5%

Graduation Rate

66%

Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Santa Clarita (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Santa Clarita's cost of living index of 148.1 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$74,050(+$24,050 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$159,948(+$51,948 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$199,935(+$64,935 vs national)

Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Santa Clarita adjustment factor: 1.48x based on the local cost of living index.

Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Santa Clarita

Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Santa Clarita tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000

Santa Clarita avg aid: $11,814/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$123,524

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$22,215

vs HS diploma in Santa Clarita

ROI Payback Period

5.6 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Santa Clarita

$1,209,376

Lifetime earnings premium ($1,332,900) minus total education cost ($123,524)

Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Clarita

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$123,524
Monthly Payment$1,403
Total Interest$44,787
% of Monthly Income23%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$123,524
Monthly Payment$2,417
Total Interest$21,489
Interest Savings$23,297

Colleges in Santa Clarita for Materials Science & Engineering

Santa Clarita State University

public

$13,263/yr

$53,052 total

University of Santa Clarita

public

$16,216/yr

$64,864 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Santa Clarita Community College

$6,330/yr

California Technical College - Santa Clarita

$5,900/yr

Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:

IntelApple3MCorningBoeing

Key Santa Clarita Hiring Sectors for Engineering

Engineering firms

Manufacturing

Defense contractors

Energy companies

Construction firms

Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles

Materials EngineerR&D EngineerMetallurgist

Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Santa Clarita — 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 Santa Clarita.

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