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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value General Materials Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

3 Colleges in the United States
$24,274 Avg Student Debt
$83,520 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Materials Science Badge [General Materials Science](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/general-materials-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general materials science schools.

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2026 Best Value General Materials Science Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general materials science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Materials Science Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of Delaware, our #1 best value for general materials science in the Middle Atlantic Region. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the general materials science program here. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.

2

Students looking for strong value in general materials science will find it at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. General Materials Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.

3

University At Buffalo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general materials science schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the general materials science program here. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,232 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.

4

Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general materials science schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $63,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.

5

Students looking for strong value in general materials science will find it at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #5. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. 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. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.

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6

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for general materials science. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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