2027 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value materials engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in materials engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Materials Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Maryland College Park, our #1 best value for materials engineering in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $84,850. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
Cornell University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $75,976. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for materials engineering. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in materials engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,266 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $60,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earned the #7 position for value in materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,078. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $66,927. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Lehigh University came in at #8 for value in materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $26,324. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $74,971. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Drexel University came in at #9 for value in materials engineering this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $82,063. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.