Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Materials Science & Engineering degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$137K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.3 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Materials Science & Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/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 Rosa is approximately $63,500, growing to $137,160 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Materials Science & Engineering Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Materials Science & Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $108,000 mid-career, $135,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Materials Science & Engineering ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Materials Science & Engineering degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,050
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
4.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$1,061,992
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,143,000) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Materials Science & Engineering
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Materials Science & Engineering in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Materials Science & Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Materials Science & Engineering Job Titles
Materials Science & Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Santa Rosa
Petroleum Engineering
$64K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$104K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$102K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$102K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$99K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Rosa.