2023 Best Value Colleges for Materials Engineering (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
14
Ranked Colleges
740
Degrees Awarded
$21,900
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 740 materials engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $69,386 and $23,307 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the materials engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Materials Engineering Schools
The materials engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Materials Engineering (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 82 diplomas to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $15,686 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Materials Engineering at Northwestern
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 119 degrees to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,207 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, 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 96%.
Read more about Materials Engineering at U-M
Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $17,124 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 Purdue Materials Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Michigan Technological University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.
Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,069 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Michigan Technological University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Michigan Technological University Materials Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $22,377 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UW - Madison.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Materials Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 109 diplomas to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k list, UIUC has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $22,400 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Materials Engineering Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #7. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 112 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k list, Ohio State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $21,575 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 94%.
Read more about Materials Engineering at Ohio State
With a ranking of #8, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 28 degrees to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $25,297 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Michigan State University.
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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Materials Engineering at Michigan State University
Wright State University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k list, Wright State University - Main Campus has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wright State University - Main Campus is $19,004 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Materials Engineering at Wright State University - Main Campus
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $24,534 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Engineering at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s materials engineering degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $24,673 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Illinois Tech.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Materials Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology
Case Western Reserve University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Case Western is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 20 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $29,971 for great lakes region materials engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Case Western Reserve University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Materials Engineering at Case Western
University of Dayton ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s materials engineering students in 2020-2021.
UDayton also made our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend University of Dayton is $28,897 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Dayton Materials Engineering Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 11 ’s materials engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM also took the #14 spot in our “Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,785 for Great Lakes Region Materials Engineering students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Materials Engineering Report
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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