2026 Best Colleges for Materials Engineering

If you’re searching for the best colleges and universities for Materials Engineering, you’re in the right place. Below is a list of all universities in the US offering a Materials Engineering degree or major, along with earnings after graduation, average student loan debt, acceptance rate and more. Read More

We rigorously analyzed a host of variables to determine what colleges and universities offer the best Materials Engineering programs in America. The list includes 61 programs and you can sort by average salary, debt, acceptance rate and more to hone in on the the best programs for you.

If you’re still wondering whether Materials Engineering is the right field of study for you, check out our guide to majoring in Materials Engineering: what you can do with the major, how much you’ll make, and more.

For the purposes of these rankings we prioritized earnings after graduation 6 years and 10 years out for students that majored in Materials Engineering. Please note that earnings are one metric of success that can be used to judge a Materials Engineering program, but are by no means the best or only option. However, because this variable is provided by the vast majority of universities offering Materials Engineering we used it as the primary method or ordering the best universities for Materials Engineering.

By scrolling all the way through the list you’ll find every college or university that offers a Materials Engineering in America.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Universities offering Materials Engineering Majors and Degrees

What is the best university for majoring in Materials Engineering?

University of Pennsylvania is the best university for majoring in Materials Engineering based on earnings data. On average, graduates from University of Pennsylvania earned an average of $76,460 2 years after graduating.

What is the cheapest university for majoring in Materials Engineering?

University of Florida (UF) is the cheapest university for majoring in Materials Engineering based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $6,381 to attend University of Florida (UF).

What is the most expensive university for majoring in Materials Engineering?

University of Pennsylvania is the most expensive university for majoring in Materials Engineering based on the Department of Education tuition data. On average, students pay $49,536 to attend University of Pennsylvania.

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#16 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $69,817
Average Debt $22,998
Program Size 59
Michigan State University (MSU)
4 Year
East Lansing, MI
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Michigan State University (MSU), located in East Lansing, MI has 59 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $69,817.
Acceptance Rate 66%
Undergraduates 12,495 students
Tuition $13,560
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#17 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $69,338
Average Debt $21,500
Program Size 97
Purdue University-Main Campus
4 Year
West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University-Main Campus, located in West Lafayette, IN has 97 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $69,338.
Acceptance Rate 59%
Undergraduates 9,732 students
Tuition $10,002
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#18 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $69,338
Average Debt $27,000
Program Size 83
University of Wisconsin-Madison
4 Year
Madison, WI
University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Madison, WI has 83 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $69,338.
Acceptance Rate 58%
Undergraduates 10,560 students
Tuition $10,415
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#19 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $69,338
Average Debt $27,250
Program Size 29
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
4 Year
Milwaukee, WI
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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), located in Milwaukee, WI has 29 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $69,338.
Acceptance Rate 86%
Undergraduates 5,394 students
Tuition $9,429
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#20 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $68,499
Average Debt $18,001
Program Size 184
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
4 Year
Champaign, IL
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), located in Champaign, IL has 184 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $68,499.
Acceptance Rate 66%
Undergraduates 12,243 students
Tuition $15,054
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#21 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $68,331
Average Debt $21,519
Program Size 62
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
4 Year
Troy, NY
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in Troy, NY has 62 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $68,331.
Acceptance Rate 42%
Undergraduates 1,994 students
Tuition $49,341
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#22 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $67,660
Average Debt $17,000
Program Size 86
University of Florida (UF)
4 Year
Gainesville, FL
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University of Florida (UF), located in Gainesville, FL has 86 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $67,660.
Acceptance Rate 48%
Undergraduates 14,030 students
Tuition $6,381
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#23 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $67,324
Average Debt $31,000
Program Size 57
Drexel University
4 Year
Philadelphia, PA
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Drexel University , located in Philadelphia, PA has 57 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $67,324.
Acceptance Rate 75%
Undergraduates 6,851 students
Tuition $48,791
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#24 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $67,101
Average Debt $25,251
Program Size 125
Iowa State University (ISU)
4 Year
Ames, IA
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Iowa State University (ISU), located in Ames, IA has 125 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $67,101.
Acceptance Rate 87%
Undergraduates 7,860 students
Tuition $7,736
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#25 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $67,101
Average Debt $25,081
Program Size 39
Boise State University (BSU)
4 Year
Boise, ID
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Boise State University (BSU), located in Boise, ID has 39 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $67,101.
Acceptance Rate 80%
Undergraduates 3,953 students
Tuition $6,876
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#26 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $67,101
Average Debt N/A
Program Size 30
University of Kentucky (UK)
4 Year
Lexington, KY
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University of Kentucky (UK), located in Lexington, KY has 30 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $67,101.
Acceptance Rate 89%
Undergraduates 6,529 students
Tuition $10,936
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#27 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $66,821
Average Debt $19,250
Program Size 45
Arizona State University-Tempe (ASU)
4 Year
Tempe, AZ
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Arizona State University-Tempe (ASU), located in Tempe, AZ has 45 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $66,821.
Acceptance Rate 83%
Undergraduates 12,153 students
Tuition $10,158
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#28 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $66,541
Average Debt $21,500
Program Size 74
University of Maryland-College Park (UMD)
4 Year
College Park, MD
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University of Maryland-College Park (UMD), located in College Park, MD has 74 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $66,541.
Acceptance Rate 45%
Undergraduates 10,196 students
Tuition $9,996
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#29 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $66,401
Average Debt $27,000
Program Size 50
Winona State University
4 Year
Winona, MN
Winona State University, located in Winona, MN has 50 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $66,401.
Acceptance Rate 62%
Undergraduates 1,841 students
Tuition $9,047
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#30 Best College for Materials Engineering
Average Salary $65,387
Average Debt $23,175
Program Size 88
University of Connecticut
4 Year
Storrs, CT
University of Connecticut, located in Storrs, CT has 88 students majoring in Materials Engineering. On average, graduates earn $65,387.
Acceptance Rate 53%
Undergraduates 7,782 students
Tuition $13,366
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Other Major Rankings
Best Materials Engineering Programs by State
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