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2027 Best Materials Engineering Schools in the Southeast Region

10 Colleges in the United States
547 Materials Engineering Degrees Awarded
$66,497 Avg Early-Career Salary

Materials Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their materials engineering programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools to find the best for materials engineering students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Materials Engineering in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall materials engineering education in the Southeast Region.

Top Schools in Materials Engineering

1

No school ranked higher than Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus this year for materials engineering. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 114 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $76,488. Students borrow a median of $17,123 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

2
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

Students looking for a strong materials engineering program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 119 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $88,363 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Florida

3

North Carolina State University At Raleigh 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 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. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $74,058 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree. Read more about the materials engineering program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

4

University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in materials engineering, ranking #4. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $69,126 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree. Get the full materials engineering details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

5
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

A rank of #5 makes Auburn University one of the top schools for materials engineering. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 22 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $55,422 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,803. More information about a degree in materials engineering from Auburn University

6

The University Of Tennessee ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $63,505. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in materials engineering from The University Of Tennessee

7

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #7 among the best materials engineering schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 74 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their materials engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $66,888 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the materials engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

8

University Of Central Florida ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 materials engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the materials engineering program make about $51,790 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. See the full materials engineering program report for University Of Central Florida

9
Clemson University crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Clemson University came in at #9 for materials engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 38 materials engineering degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $69,763. Typical student debt for the program is $25,243. More information about a degree in materials engineering from Clemson University

10

University Of Kentucky ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best materials engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lexington. University Of Kentucky graduates 71% of students within six years. University Of Kentucky awarded about 18 materials engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete this degree. Read more about the materials engineering program at University Of Kentucky

View All Materials Engineering Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 10 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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