by our College Data Analytics TeamPlastics have been useful materials since they were developed. However, not all plastics are the same. If you know the difference between these materials and are interested in customizing them for specific industrial uses, Polymer and Plastics Engineering is your major.
As a Polymer and Plastics Engineering student, you will take classes in the plastics industry, chemistry, manufacturing, applied mathematics, polymer synthesis, and thermoforming. These classes will teach you the skills to customize plastics for specific uses, design and create new light-weight materials, and tailor material properties.
In 2021-2022, polymer & plastics engineering was the 293rd most popular major nationwide with 325 degrees awarded. This year's Best Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools ranking compares 6 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom polymer engineering rankings further below.
Students who excel in this career have a strong background in math and science. Polymer and Plastics Engineering deals a lot with the makeup of materials, requiring a strong understanding of chemistry. Students must also have problem solving and critical thinking skills to develop new materials and products and fix any issues that may come up during the testing phase. Strong teamwork and communication skills allow students to work well with other professionals when working on a project.
Most polymer and plastics engineers work full time in a laboratory or industrial setting. This allows professionals to work in research and development while keeping an eye on the results of their projects.
Practical experience is important in this field and employers often look for it on resumes when hiring. Students can gain this experience through internships or cooperative engineering programs. These programs allow students to earn college credit while working at a relevant location.
Although graduates will be able to find jobs with their bachelor's degree, if you would like to conduct research and development, you will have to obtain your master's degree. This advanced degree will also allow graduates to move into higher management positions.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most polymer engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic polymer & plastics engineering program qualifications, to serve in some polymer engineering careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Polymer Engineering degree levels vary. Polymer & Plastics Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest polymer engineering degree you can get. Depending on the polymer & plastics engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to polymer engineering, with approximately 36.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to polymer engineering tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 45.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 27.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 5.1% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 4.9% |
58.0% of polymer engineering workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in polymer & plastics engineering have received.
This of course varies depending on which polymer engineering career you choose.
Polymer and Plastics Engineering graduates have a variety of career options available to them. These materials are used in many different fields opening up careers in aeronautics, architecture, and electronic component manufacturing among others.
Since many fields are constantly looking for new and better materials, Polymer and Plastics Engineering graduates will likely be in demand. Those who have previous experience in the field will have an easier time finding a job.
Want a job when you graduate with your polymer engineering degree? Polymer & Plastics Engineering careers are expected to grow 6.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to polymer & plastics engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
| Materials Engineers | 27,500 | 1.9% |
Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $70,793 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $60,375 to as high as $89,021. As you might expect, salaries for polymer engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for polymer & plastics engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers polymer engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Materials Engineers | $96,930 |
With over 35 different polymer engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased polymer engineering school rankings to help you with this.
Polymer & Plastics Engineering is one of 41 different types of Engineering programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Polymer & Plastics Engineering | 325 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 44,794 |
| Electrical Engineering | 26,528 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,655 |
| Computer Engineering | 16,954 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 13,222 |
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