by our College Data Analytics Team
[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their materials engineering graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where materials engineering graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send materials engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Arizona State University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid materials engineering graduates in the United States. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Materials Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $108,956 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University Skysong came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. Arizona State University Skysong is a public school located in the city of Scottsdale. After graduating, materials engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong typically earn about $108,956 annually.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying materials engineering schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $98,154 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place for materials engineering. University Of Florida is a public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $97,525.
Students chasing top earnings in materials engineering will find them at Drexel University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the materials engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,503.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #6 for materials engineering graduate earnings this year. Set 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 $73,738 per year.
Explore the highest-paying materials engineering schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries materials engineering graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 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.