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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Materials Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

3 Colleges in the United States
247 Materials Sciences Degrees Awarded
$69,234 Avg Early-Career Salary

Materials Sciences 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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for materials sciences students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Materials Sciences in the Middle Atlantic Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the materials sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Materials Sciences

1

Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in materials sciences. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 57 materials sciences degrees in the most recent data year. See the full materials sciences program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

2

Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best materials sciences schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 27 materials sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials sciences degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. More information about a degree in materials sciences from Columbia University In The City Of New York

3

Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best materials sciences schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 23 materials sciences degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Materials Sciences 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 materials sciences program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology

4

Students looking for a strong materials sciences program will find one at University At Buffalo, which ranked #4. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 materials sciences students who graduated with this degree at University At Buffalo in the most recent data year. Materials Sciences graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. See the full materials sciences program report for University At Buffalo

5

Students looking for a strong materials sciences program will find one at Carnegie Mellon University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 90 materials sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Sciences graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529. More information about a degree in materials sciences from Carnegie Mellon University

6

University Of Delaware came in at #6 for materials sciences this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 34 materials sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Materials Sciences graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Read more about the materials sciences program at University Of Delaware

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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