General Materials Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 60 schools to find the best for general materials science students.
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Choosing a Great General Materials Science School
The general materials science program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Materials Science rankings. For our Best Overall General Materials Science School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
General Materials Science Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Materials Science Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for general materials science. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 111 general materials science degrees in the most recent data year. General Materials Science graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
Get the full general materials science details for University Of California Berkeley
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general materials science, ranking #2. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. About 57 general materials science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full general materials science program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the top schools for general materials science. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 27 general materials science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their general materials science degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
Read more about the general materials science program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top schools for general materials science. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 46 general materials science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $45,488. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general materials science from University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong general materials science program will find one at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #5. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 23 general materials science degrees in the most recent data year. General Materials Science graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,491.
See the full general materials science program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology
University At Buffalo came in at #6 for general materials science this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 16 general materials science students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. General Materials Science graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general materials science program at University At Buffalo
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general materials science schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 85 general materials science degrees in the most recent data year. General Materials Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
See the full general materials science program report for Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Delaware earned the #8 position for general materials science this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 general materials science degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. Typical student debt for the program is $24,861.
Get the full general materials science details for University Of Delaware
University Of California Riverside ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general materials science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 13 general materials science degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. General Materials Science graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $40,040 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general materials science from University Of California Riverside
The University Of Alabama placed #10 among the best general materials science schools. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. There were roughly 11 general materials science students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials science program make about $50,740 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general materials science program at The University Of Alabama
University Of Arizona came in at #11 for general materials science this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 22 general materials science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general materials science degree from University Of Arizona earn around $50,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general materials science from University Of Arizona
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 60 schools evaluated.
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).
