by our College Data Analytics TeamMaterial Engineers create, develop, and test materials to create different products: everything from waterproof coats, to four-lane bridges, to golf clubs. As a Materials Engineering major you will learn how to develop high-tech materials or improve already existing products. Some of the materials you will commonly work with include metal, ceramics and glass, plastic, natural and synthetic items. Nothing is too challenging for a material engineer major. If the right material cannot be found, the next step is to create one to handle the job.
Some courses you may be required to take could include: chemistry, physics, advanced mathematics, thermodynamics, kinetics of materials, material engineering design, materials science, and electronic properties of materials. Materials engineers may specialize in a specific material, such as: ceramic, composite, metallurgic, plastics, or semiconductor processing.
A degree in Materials Engineering involves the study of Materials Engineering. Read on to learn the essential details every materials engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering materials engineering programs.
Nationwide, materials engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 3,129 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Materials Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 112 schools to determine the best overall colleges for materials engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of materials engineering programs later in this article.
Coursework for Materials Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations materials engineering graduates commonly enter.
Engineering students love to solve problems and learn how things work. As a materials engineering major, you will use critical thinking and creativity in order to determine how materials can be used in different conditions.
You will be working with numbers and solving equations, but you will also have to articulate your findings to your peers and your professors. Learn to hone your communication skills through writing reports and participating in group presentations. You will need to be very clear when explaining a concept to someone who is not familiar with engineering.
Most colleges will require a summer or semester long internship in order to graduate. Other programs will require you to participate in a co-op program.
The skill set emphasized by a materials engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a materials engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several materials engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,194 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,182 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 727 |
People currently working in careers related to materials engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 37.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.8% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in materials engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in materials engineering prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to materials engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to materials engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Cost Estimators | 181,631 | 12.4% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of materials engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,307 |
| 4 years | $80,020 |
| 5 years | $89,395 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for materials engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers materials engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Cost Estimators | $80,966 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
With 112 different materials engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased materials engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in materials engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Materials Engineering | 3,129 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
