2027 Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Materials Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for materials engineering students.
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Best Schools for Materials Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the materials engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Materials Engineering
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in materials engineering. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 61 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from Northwestern University
Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school 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. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $78,265 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,335 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in materials engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 115 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $75,080 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $17,916 in student loans.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for materials engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 76 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $75,041 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for materials engineering. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 45 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $76,662 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,676.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #6 for materials engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $70,371. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #7 for materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 26 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Michigan State University came in at #8 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $78,276. Students borrow a median of $27,925 to complete this degree.
See the full materials engineering program report for Michigan State University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #9 for materials engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 12 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete this degree.
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Case Western Reserve University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 24 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $74,459 in their early career. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
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Michigan Technological University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 32 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Michigan Technological University in the most recent year. Materials Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $63,135 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the materials engineering program at Michigan Technological University
University Of Dayton earned the #12 position for materials engineering this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 materials engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $56,077 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
More information about a degree in materials engineering from University Of Dayton
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Notes and References
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 · 12 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.