by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Textile Sciences & Engineering involves the study of Textile Sciences And Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems To Test And Manufacture Fibers And Fiber Products, Both Synthetic And Natural; To Develop New And Improved Fibers, Textiles And Their Uses; And To The Analysis Of Related Engineering Problems Such As Structural Factors, Molecular Synthesis, Chemical Manufacturing, Weaves, Strength And Stress, Useful Life, Dyes, And Applications To Composite Systems. Continue reading for the important information every textile sciences & engineering major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering textile sciences & engineering programs.
Across the country, textile sciences & engineering draws strong interest, with 275 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Textile Sciences & Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for textile sciences & engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of textile sciences & engineering programs later in this article.
Studies in Textile Sciences & Engineering develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations textile sciences & engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a textile sciences & engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a textile sciences & engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several textile sciences & engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 194 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 58 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
People currently working in careers related to textile sciences & engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in textile sciences & engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in textile sciences & engineering opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to textile sciences & engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to textile sciences & engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of textile sciences & engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,533 |
| 4 years | $57,894 |
| 5 years | $71,193 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for textile sciences & engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers textile sciences & engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
With 4 different textile sciences & engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased textile sciences & engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
