College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

12 Colleges in the United States
548 General Materials Engineering Degrees Awarded
$66,770 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Materials Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for general materials engineering students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Materials Engineering in the Southeast 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 general materials engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Materials Engineering

1

No school ranked higher than Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus this year for general materials engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. About 94% of students finish within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 114 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. General Materials Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $76,488 early in their careers. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,123 in student loans. Read more about the general materials engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

2

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general materials engineering, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Get the full general materials engineering details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

3
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for general materials engineering. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 101 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $88,363 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree. See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Florida

4

Students looking for a strong general materials engineering program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 63 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their general materials engineering degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $74,058 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans. See the full general materials engineering program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh

5

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general materials engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 65 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general materials engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $66,888 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the general materials engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

6

The University Of Tennessee landed the #6 spot for general materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. About 39 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $63,505 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from The University Of Tennessee

7
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 22 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general materials engineering degree from Auburn University earn around $55,422 in the first couple years of their career. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Read more about the general materials engineering program at Auburn University

8

University Of Central Florida landed the #8 spot for general materials engineering this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. General Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete this degree. See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Central Florida

9
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general materials engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Clemson University awarded about 35 general materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $69,763. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $25,243 in student loans. Read more about the general materials engineering program at Clemson University

10

University Of Kentucky placed #10 among the best general materials engineering schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 23 general materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Graduates of the general materials engineering program make about $49,568 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,094. See the full general materials engineering program report for University Of Kentucky

11

University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #11 among the best general materials engineering schools. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 general materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $69,498. University Of Alabama At Birmingham graduates carry a median of $26,162 in student loans. More information about a degree in general materials engineering from University Of Alabama At Birmingham

View All General Materials Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options