[General Materials Science](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/general-materials-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general materials science schools.
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Finding the Best Value General Materials Science School for You
The right general materials science school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value General Materials Science Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value General Materials Science Schools list, to help you choose. 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.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #1 spot for value among general materials science schools in the United States. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete the general materials science program here. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $45,488. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #2 place for general materials science. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general materials science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $40,040. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in general materials science will find it at University Of Delaware, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Typical student debt for general materials science graduates is $24,861. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $54,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for general materials science. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. General Materials Science graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for value in general materials science this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for general materials science graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo landed the #7 spot for general materials science value this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the general materials science program here. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general materials science schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans. General Materials Science graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,496 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #9 for value in general materials science this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the general materials science program here. General Materials Science graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #10 spot for general materials science value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for general materials science value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 60 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
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).
[General Materials Science](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/general-materials-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
