by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 13 U.S. colleges awarded 214 degrees and certificates in General Polymer & Plastics Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 47% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $73,005 one year after completing, rising to $94,213 after four years.
A major in General Polymer & Plastics Engineering explores Polymer/plastics Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Synthesized Macromolecular Compounds And Their Application To Specific Engineering Uses, Including The Development Of Industrial Materials With Tailored Properties, The Design Of Lightweight Structural Components, The Use Of Liquid Or Solid Polymers, And The Analysis And Control Of Polymerization Processes.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general polymer & plastics engineering is a popular field of study, with 214 degrees awarded annually. 13 colleges award general polymer & plastics engineering degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 56.
By level, the 214 awards include 101 bachelor’s degrees, 66 master’s degrees and 47 doctorates.
Women earned 36% of general polymer & plastics engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (76 of 214). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (133) and Asian (11), and international students earned 44.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees, 2 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks general polymer & plastics engineering schools within 3 states. In all, 13 colleges offer general polymer & plastics engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general polymer & plastics engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 101 of the 214 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general polymer & plastics engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general polymer & plastics engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 101 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 66 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 47 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general polymer & plastics engineering, at 36.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.0% |
| Master’s degree | 11.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to General Polymer & Plastics Engineering, with an average median salary of $90,692; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Engineering Managers, at 9.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hydraulics Teacher, Drawing Instructor, Adjunct Instructor and Petroleum Engineering Teacher.
The occupation related to general polymer & plastics engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Chemical Engineers | 215,233 | 0.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
General Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates earn a median $73,005 one year after completing their program, $94,213 after four years and $100,868 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $73,005 |
| 4 years | $94,213 |
| 5 years | $100,868 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general polymer & plastics engineering is Chemical Engineers, with a median salary of $130,903.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineers | $130,903 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
