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2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

20 Ranked Colleges
704 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Materials Engineering is the 154th most popular major in the country with 3,415 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, materials engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $65,007 and had an average of $23,030 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 704 materials engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,117 and $22,363 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 20 colleges that offered a degree in materials engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great materials engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the materials engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 20 Best Value Colleges for Materials Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Southeast Region

1
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 163 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, UF has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $8,394 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UF Materials Engineering Report

2
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Duke is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 1 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Duke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Duke is $7,160 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Duke University Materials Engineering Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 114 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Georgia Tech has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is $15,415 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Georgia Tech Materials Engineering Report

4
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 18 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $16,019 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Virginia.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Materials Engineering Report

5
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot on the list. NC State is a large school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 60 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

NC State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $14,424 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Materials Engineering at North Carolina State University

6

University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 23 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UCF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $9,426 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at UCF

7
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 85 students in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $18,372 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Engineering at Virginia Tech

8

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Tampa, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USF Tampa, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $9,669 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at University of South Florida - Main Campus

9
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

With a ranking of #9, Clemson University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Clemson is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 59 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

Clemson also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $20,797 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Clemson University.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Clemson Materials Engineering Report

10

Florida International University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, FIU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend FIU is $7,292 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at Florida International University

11
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UK is a public institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UK is $16,708 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UK Materials Engineering Report

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UAB is located in Birmingham, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

UAB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $17,857 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UAB.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full UAB Materials Engineering Report

13
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fayetteville, Arkansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, UARK has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $16,256 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Arkansas.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Materials Engineering at University of Arkansas

14
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. WVU is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WVU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WVU is $13,077 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at WVU

15
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Ole Miss is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ole Miss also took the #15 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ole Miss is $15,351 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Ole Miss

16

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 57 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Knoxville, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,476 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

17
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Auburn, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

Auburn also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Auburn University is $23,468 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Auburn Materials Engineering Report

18
Tulane crest
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tulane University of Louisiana landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Tulane University of Louisiana is located in New Orleans, Louisiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

Tulane not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tulane University of Louisiana is $25,322 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at Tulane

19
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. The University of Alabama is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 2 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Alabama is $21,649 for southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at UA

20
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

Tuskegee University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Tuskegee University is located in Tuskegee, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region materials engineering students whose families make $48-$75k list, Tuskegee has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tuskegee University is $37,338 for Southeast Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at Tuskegee

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