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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Materials Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

44 Colleges in the United States
1,102 Materials Engineering Degrees Awarded
$70,583 Avg Early-Career Salary

Materials Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their materials engineering programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 119 schools to find the best for materials engineering students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Materials Engineering in the United States

See the highest-ranked materials engineering schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.

Top Schools in Materials Engineering

1

No school ranked higher than Cornell University this year for materials engineering. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 26 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. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000. See the full materials engineering program report for Cornell University

2

Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for Texas A And M University College Station

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #3 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for materials engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 62 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $78,265 in the first couple years of their career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,335 in student loans. Get the full materials engineering details for Purdue University Main Campus

4

A rank of #4 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for materials engineering. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 19 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. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. See the full materials engineering program report for Northwestern University

5

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in materials engineering, ranking #5. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 materials engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $74,496 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000. Read more about the materials engineering program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

6

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 33 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $75,041 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor

7

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #7 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. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 60 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $76,488 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,123. Read more about the materials engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

8

University Of California Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 28 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. 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. More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of California Los Angeles

9

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #9 position for materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 65 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $75,080. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $17,916 in student loans. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

10

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for materials engineering this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 23 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. See the full materials engineering program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

11
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida came in at #11 for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 35 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $79,200 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Florida

12

North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #12 spot for materials engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 25 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $74,058 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree. Read more about the materials engineering program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

13

University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 39 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data 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. Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Madison

14
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 16 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. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Pennsylvania

15
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University landed the #15 spot for materials engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 12 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Read more about the materials engineering program at Stanford University

16

University Of Maryland College Park placed #16 among the best materials engineering schools. 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 12 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. 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

17

Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 30 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $70,371. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in materials engineering from Ohio State University Main Campus

18

University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #18 for materials engineering this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 41 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $71,174 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $20,915 in student loans. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus

19

Arizona State University came in at #19 for materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $77,646 early in their careers. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $23,733 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for Arizona State University

20

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #20 for materials engineering this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 37 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $66,888 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the materials engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

21

Case Western Reserve University placed #21 among the best materials engineering schools. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $74,459 in the first couple years of their career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans. More information about a degree in materials engineering from Case Western Reserve University

22
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University placed #22 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 15 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Michigan State University earn around $78,276 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $27,925 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for Michigan State University

23

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 25 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

24
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University awarded about 11 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. More information about a degree in materials engineering from Auburn University

25

University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #25 spot for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $60,445. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

Rest of the Top 43 Materials Engineering Schools

These schools also placed among the best for materials engineering this year:

26
27
28
29
30
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
31
32
33
34
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
35
36
37
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
38
39
40
41
42
43

Other Materials Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Materials Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Materials Engineering
Associate's Degrees in Materials Engineering
Master's Degrees in Materials Engineering
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View All Materials Engineering Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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