2026 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in materials engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Materials Engineering Schools
University Of California San Diego tops our 2026 list of the best value materials engineering schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,987 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $58,177 early in their careers. Set against $9,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Merced one of the best values for materials engineering. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. Students from in state pay about $14,653 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,318 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $42,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Portland State University one of the best values for materials engineering. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #6 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,915 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $72,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of California Riverside came in at #7 for value in materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $19,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
San Jose State University placed #8 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #9 spot for materials engineering value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $98,154. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of California Davis earned the #10 position for value in materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $18,777. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $74,110. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #11 among the best values for materials engineering. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $17,000. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $74,496. Set against $17,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
California Institute Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,898. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $173,344. The acceptance rate is 3%.
University Of Southern California placed #13 among the best values for materials engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,647. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $15,625. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $75,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Materials Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
