by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 112 U.S. colleges awarded 3,220 degrees and certificates in General Materials Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 40% of graduates. College Factual ranks 62 schools in its 2027 Best General Materials Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $74,307 one year after completing, rising to $95,311 after four years.
Studying General Materials Engineering involves the study of Materials Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Materials Science Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Materials And Related Processes Used In Manufacturing In A Wide Variety Of Settings; The Synthesis Of New Industrial Materials, Including Marrying And Bonding Composites; Analysis Of Materials Requirements And Specifications; And Related Problems Of System Design Dependent On Materials Factors. Examples: [Materials Processing And Manufacturing], [Materials Science Engineering].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general materials engineering draws strong interest, with 3,220 degrees awarded annually. 112 colleges award general materials engineering degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 123.
By level, the 3,220 awards include 7 associate degrees, 1,171 bachelor’s degrees, 1,303 master’s degrees and 720 doctorates.
Women earned 34% of general materials engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,096 of 3,220). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,345) and Asian (370), and international students earned 939.
College Factual ranks 62 schools in its 2027 Best General Materials Engineering Schools ranking, including 44 for bachelor’s degrees, 39 for master’s degrees and 30 for doctorates. It also ranks general materials engineering schools within 29 states. In all, 112 colleges offer general materials engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Materials Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general materials engineering credential is the master’s degree: 1,303 of the 3,220 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general materials engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general materials engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,171 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,303 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 720 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general materials engineering, at 37.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 37.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.8% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to General Materials Engineering, with an average median salary of $80,705; the strongest outlook belongs to Cost Estimators, at 12.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Design Teacher, Ceramic Engineering Professor, Surveying Teacher and Chemical Engineering Teacher.
The occupation related to general materials 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% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Cost Estimators | 181,631 | 12.4% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
General Materials Engineering graduates earn a median $74,307 one year after completing their program, $95,311 after four years and $89,395 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $74,307 |
| 4 years | $95,311 |
| 5 years | $89,395 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general materials engineering is Architectural and Engineering Managers, with a median salary of $101,277.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Cost Estimators | $80,966 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
