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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Materials Sciences

59 Ranked Colleges
658 Degrees Awarded
$33,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 658 people earned their degree in materials sciences, making the major the 265th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, materials sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $64,925 and had an average of $26,966 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major” ranking looked at 59 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in materials sciences. That schools that top this list have a program in materials sciences in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Materials Sciences

1
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major. Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon Materials Sciences Report

2
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Out of the 59 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Norfolk State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Norfolk State University is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at Norfolk State University

3

Out of the 59 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Montana Technological University landed the #3 spot on the list. Butte, Montana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

Full Montana Tech Materials Sciences Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 74 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at UC Berkeley

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Air Force Institute of Technology - Graduate School of Engineering & Management. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management is located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management

6

Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking, coming in at #6. RIT is a fairly large school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 19 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology

7

William Paterson University of New Jersey ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Wayne, New Jersey, and it awarded 9 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full William Paterson University Materials Sciences Report

8

Stevens Institute of Technology ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. Stevens Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. It awarded 11 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology

9
CUA crest
Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia

Catholic University of America landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. Catholic University of America is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Materials Sciences at Catholic University of America

10

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

11

University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking, coming in at #11. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is a fairly large public school situated in Mayaguez, . It awarded 6 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

12
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Sciences at University at Buffalo

13

Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Materials Sciences Report

14

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking, coming in at #14. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full UCSB Materials Sciences Report

15
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. Newark, Delaware is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Delaware

16
University of Rochester crest
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York

University of Rochester landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. University of Rochester is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 10 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Rochester Materials Sciences Report

17
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 27 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Materials Sciences at University of Arizona

18
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. Pitt State is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 4 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at Pittsburg State University

19

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 12 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at Missouri State

20

University of California - Riverside came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 14 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at UCR

21
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major ranking. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota Materials Sciences Report

22
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #22, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. This large school is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and it awarded 11 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Materials Sciences at UARK

23

With a ranking of #23, University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It awarded 8 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

24
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. Wayne State University is a public institution located in Detroit, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Wayne State Materials Sciences Report

25
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Materials Science Major list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Vanderbilt Materials Sciences Report

Notes and References

References

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