[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong materials engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 61 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value materials engineering schools.
Finding the Best Value Materials Engineering School for You
The right materials engineering school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Materials Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Materials Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for materials engineering in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $88,363. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in materials engineering will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete the materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $17,123 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $76,488. That is a strong return on a $17,123 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Los Angeles earned it the #4 place for materials engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $98,154. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for materials engineering. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $17,101. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Portland State University earned the #6 position for value in materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $47,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for value in materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $75,041. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University placed #8 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the materials engineering program here. Materials Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Central Florida ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University placed #10 among the best values for materials engineering. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #11 spot for materials engineering value this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $17,916. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $75,080. Set against $17,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $21,335. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $78,265. Set against $21,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #13 for value in materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,915 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $72,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #14 spot for materials engineering value this year. Set in the town of Socorro, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,476 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,247. Students borrow a median of $18,747 to complete the materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology generally make around $64,561. Set against $18,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology admits about 44% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine came in at #15 for value in materials engineering this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $9,987. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $58,177. That is a strong return on a $9,987 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis came in at #16 for value in materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $18,777. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $74,110 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
Arizona State University earned the #17 position for value in materials engineering this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $23,733 to complete the materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $93,301. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Riverside landed the #18 spot for materials engineering value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete the materials engineering program here. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of $111,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University landed the #19 spot for materials engineering value this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $63,135. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #20 spot for materials engineering value this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $20,836. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #21 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $17,000. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $74,496. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #22 for value in materials engineering this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $44,861. That is a strong return on a $27,484 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah placed #23 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $20,798. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $60,527. Set against $20,798 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #24 for value in materials engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $21,111. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $74,058. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $22,574. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in materials engineering:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 61 ranked schools only.
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).
[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong materials engineering education at a price that pays off.
