Materials Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 62 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best materials engineering schools.
The school you choose for materials engineering can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Materials Engineering Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Materials Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Materials Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year for materials engineering. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $84,850 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
See the full materials engineering program report for Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 61 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $78,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Northwestern University
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Southern California earn around $75,677 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Southern California
Students looking for a strong materials engineering program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 94 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Stanford University
Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 123 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $64,891 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Texas A And M University College Station
Cornell University came in at #6 for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 102 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
Get the full materials engineering details for Cornell University
Purdue University Main Campus placed #7 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $78,265. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,335 in student loans.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #8 position for materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 115 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $75,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,916 to complete this degree.
Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $60,523 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,266.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #10 among the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 34 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $74,496 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
Read more about the materials engineering program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #11 among the best materials engineering schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 114 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $76,488 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,123 to complete this degree.
Get the full materials engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #12 position for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 37 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of Colorado Boulder earn around $55,861 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,373.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #13 for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 116 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $98,154 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of California Los Angeles
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #14 for materials engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Colorado School Of Mines graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Colorado School Of Mines in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Colorado School Of Mines earn around $76,298 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,521.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Colorado School Of Mines
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #15 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 76 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $75,041 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of California San Diego ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 46 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $60,797. Typical student debt for the program is $17,101.
Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of California San Diego
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 81 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Florida placed #18 among the best materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $88,363. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Florida
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #19 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 26 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Maryland College Park
San Jose State University came in at #20 for materials engineering this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 16 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from San Jose State University
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 13 materials engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
Read more about the materials engineering program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #22 for materials engineering this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 42 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $65,919 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #23 position for materials engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 70 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $74,058 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,111.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Boston University placed #24 among the best materials engineering schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
See the full materials engineering program report for Boston University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #25 among the best materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rest of the Top 50 Materials Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong materials engineering education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 62 schools evaluated.
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).
