by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying General Materials Engineering involves the study of Materials Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Materials Science Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Materials And Related Processes Used In Manufacturing In A Wide Variety Of Settings; The Synthesis Of New Industrial Materials, Including Marrying And Bonding Composites; Analysis Of Materials Requirements And Specifications; And Related Problems Of System Design Dependent On Materials Factors. Examples: [Materials Processing And Manufacturing], [Materials Science Engineering]. Continue reading for the key facts every general materials engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general materials engineering programs.
In the U.S., general materials engineering draws strong interest, with 3,129 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Materials Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 112 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general materials engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general materials engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in General Materials Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general materials engineering graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general materials engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general materials engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 general 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general materials engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general materials engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general materials engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general 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 general materials engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 general materials engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general 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 general materials engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general materials engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
