by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 53 degrees and certificates in Ceramic Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ceramic Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $73,133 one year after completing, rising to $87,017 after four years.
Did you know that ceramics are part of almost every modern technology? Ceramics are needed in electronics, transportation, defense systems, and environmental technologies. As a Ceramic Engineering major you will learn how to use mathematical concepts and science to develop materials. These materials are porcelain, cement, and ceramics; they are not metal or organic materials such as plants or animals.
Courses they may be required to take in the subject could include, but are not limited to: chemistry, engineering graphics, introduction to engineering, engineering mechanics, physics, electrical engineering, statistics, pottery, art, applied mathematics, and design. However, there are only a handful of schools that offer this major, so it is important to know that you want to go into this field when you are apply to college.
Studying Ceramic Engineering explores Ceramic Sciences And Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, ceramic engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 53 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award ceramic engineering degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 29.
By level, the 53 awards include 33 bachelor’s degrees, 11 master’s degrees and 9 doctorates.
Women earned 24% of ceramic engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (13 of 53). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (34) and Asian (6), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ceramic Engineering Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks ceramic engineering schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer ceramic engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ceramic Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ceramic engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 33 of the 53 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ceramic engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This major appeals to those who are curious and innovative and love to spend time experimenting, inventing, and solving puzzles. The curriculum is heavy with science and math, and students will need to hone their critical thinking skills as well. Using reason and logic along with deductive reasoning will help you find solutions to the problems that you come across.
Good communication skills will assist you in completing oral presentations and written assignments, as well as listening to feedback and ideas. Although engineering students aren't typically as interested in English language and literature, it's important to take classes that will teach you effective writing skills. You will be required to write plans and reports clearly so that even people without a background in ceramic engineering can understand the plan.
You will also be asked to work in teams to complete projects with your classmates. This will prepare you for the workforce when you are asked to work with engineers from other backgrounds and scientists to find a solution to the problem presented. You will need to accept input from your professional peers as well present and defend your own ideas.
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How long a ceramic engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 33 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ceramic engineering, at 36.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.0% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Ceramic Engineering, with an average median salary of $90,692; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Engineering Managers, at 9.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Architectural Engineering Teacher, Engineering Lecturer, Chemical Engineering Teacher and Electrical Engineering Teacher.
As a ceramic engineer you will develop materials to help make them useful products. This can range from creating spaceships or rocket nozzles to glass for LCD displays.
The occupation related to ceramic engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Chemical Engineers | 215,233 | 0.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
Ceramic Engineering graduates earn a median $73,133 one year after completing their program, $87,017 after four years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $73,133 |
| 4 years | $87,017 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to ceramic engineering is Chemical Engineers, with a median salary of $130,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
Ceramic Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Ceramic Sciences and Engineering (53). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,982 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ceramic Sciences and Engineering | 53 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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