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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

8 Colleges in the United States
376 Materials Engineering Degrees Awarded
$73,046 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for materials engineering students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Materials Engineering in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall materials engineering education in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Top Schools in Materials Engineering

1

Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in materials engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 35 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the materials engineering program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

Johns Hopkins University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in materials engineering, ranking #2. 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. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for Johns Hopkins University

3

Cornell University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 83 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for Cornell University

4
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155. More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Pennsylvania

5

University Of Maryland College Park is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 25 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836. More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Maryland College Park

6
Stony Brook University crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY

Stony Brook University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Stony Brook University awarded about 15 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $60,047 in their early career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for Stony Brook University

7

University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #7 among the best materials engineering schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 38 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $56,926 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,958. Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

8

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best materials engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Troy. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $66,927 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full materials engineering details for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

9
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University landed the #9 spot for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $82,063 in their early career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Get the full materials engineering details for Drexel University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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