General Materials Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 119 schools to find the best for general materials engineering students.
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Choosing a Great General Materials Engineering School
The school you choose for general materials engineering can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Materials Engineering rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
General Materials Engineering Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best General Materials Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in general materials engineering. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 35 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general materials engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong general materials engineering program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 27 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $57,819 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
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Johns Hopkins University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 52 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $84,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for general materials engineering. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwestern University awarded about 86 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $78,551 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general materials engineering, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 74 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Texas A And M University College Station landed the #6 spot for general materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 121 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. General Materials Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $64,891 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #7 spot for general materials engineering this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 52 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. General Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of California San Diego
Cornell University earned the #8 position for general materials engineering this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 83 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general materials engineering degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
Read more about the general materials engineering program at Cornell University
University Of Southern California earned the #9 position for general materials engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 20 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $75,677 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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Colorado School Of Mines placed #10 among the best general materials engineering schools. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $76,298. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general materials engineering program at Colorado School Of Mines
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #11 position for general materials engineering this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 113 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $78,265 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,335.
More information about a degree in general materials engineering from Purdue University Main Campus
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #12 position for general materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. About 114 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $76,488 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,123.
See the full general materials engineering program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #13 position for general materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 59 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $74,496 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full general materials engineering program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #14 position for general materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 113 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $75,080. Typical student debt for the program is $17,916.
See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot for general materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $75,041. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #16 spot for general materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. General Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $98,154 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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California Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best general materials engineering schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. California Institute Of Technology graduates 94% of students within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 20 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
See the full general materials engineering program report for California Institute Of Technology
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general materials engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 52 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $65,919 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,516.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #19 position for general materials engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 36 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627.
More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Florida landed the #20 spot for general materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $88,363. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania placed #21 among the best general materials engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 66 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
Read more about the general materials engineering program at University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #22 spot for general materials engineering this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836.
See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Maryland College Park
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #23 spot for general materials engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 63 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. General Materials Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $74,058 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,111.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #24 for general materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 58 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. General Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $76,662 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,676.
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Boston University earned the #25 position for general materials engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 33 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $63,598 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Materials Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general materials engineering education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 119 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
