Materials Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 119 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best materials engineering schools.
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Choosing a Great Materials Engineering School
Where you study materials engineering matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Materials Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Materials Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Materials Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in materials engineering. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 35 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
See the full materials engineering program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Johns Hopkins University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 52 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Get the full materials engineering details for Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 86 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Northwestern University
A rank of #5 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for materials engineering. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 74 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $100,827 in their early career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full materials engineering program report for Stanford University
Texas A And M University College Station placed #6 among the best materials engineering schools. 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 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Texas A And M University College Station
University Of California San Diego ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 52 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of California San Diego
Cornell University came in at #8 for materials engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 83 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $75,976. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
Get the full materials engineering details for Cornell University
University Of Southern California earned the #9 position for 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%. About 20 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $75,677 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Southern California
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #10 for materials engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $76,298 in their early career. Colorado School Of Mines graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Colorado School Of Mines
Purdue University Main Campus placed #11 among the best materials engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 113 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $78,265 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,335.
Get the full materials engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. 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. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 114 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $76,488. Typical student debt for the program is $17,123.
Get the full materials engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #13 among the best materials engineering schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 59 materials engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Materials Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $74,496 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
Read more about the materials engineering program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #14 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 113 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $75,080 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,916.
Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #15 spot for materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 101 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $75,041 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California Los Angeles placed #16 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 88 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $98,154 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of California Los Angeles
California Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best materials engineering schools. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 20 materials engineering degrees were awarded at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344.
See the full materials engineering program report for California Institute Of Technology
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 52 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $65,919 early in their careers. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #19 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Florida landed the #20 spot for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 101 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $88,363. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Florida
University Of Pennsylvania placed #21 among the best 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. There were roughly 66 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #22 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 25 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $57,901 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Maryland College Park
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #23 for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 63 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $74,058 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #24 position for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 58 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $76,662 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,676 to complete this degree.
See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Boston University landed the #25 spot for materials engineering this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 33 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Boston University earn around $63,598 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Boston University
Rest of the Top 50 Materials Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong materials engineering education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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).
