by our College Data Analytics Team
[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying materials engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose materials engineering graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 for materials engineering graduate salaries in the United States. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,760.
University Of Pennsylvania produces some of the highest-paid graduates in materials engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career materials engineering graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $98,625 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned it the #3 place for materials engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $107,726.
Students chasing top earnings in materials engineering will find them at Drexel University, which ranked #4. Drexel University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career materials engineering graduates from Drexel University make a median of around $99,089 per year.
Michigan State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,671.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public school located in the city of Champaign. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $96,928.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #7 position for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,471.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #8 position for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career materials engineering graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $98,760 per year.
University Of Florida came in at #9 for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,081.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #10 for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,572.
University Of Connecticut placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for materials engineering. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of about $86,829 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $85,207 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for materials engineering. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, materials engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus typically earn about $92,120 annually.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #14 for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, materials engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology typically earn about $98,069 annually.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. After graduating, materials engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus typically earn about $78,265 annually.
Arizona State University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for materials engineering. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,646.
Winona State University landed the #17 spot for materials engineering salaries this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,187.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public institution. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of about $88,034 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #19 spot for materials engineering salaries this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Materials Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of about $90,734 a year early in their careers.
Lehigh University landed the #20 spot for materials engineering salaries this year. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Materials Engineering graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of about $74,971 a year early in their careers.
Clemson University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a public institution. Early-career materials engineering graduates from Clemson University make a median of around $82,276 per year.
Iowa State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for materials engineering. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Materials Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of about $87,838 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Davis landed the #23 spot for materials engineering salaries this year. University Of California Davis is a public school located in the suburb of Davis. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of about $74,110 a year early in their careers.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for materials engineering. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,058.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #25 for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Materials Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $84,117 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send materials engineering graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying materials engineering schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their materials engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 31 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.