by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 285 degrees and certificates in Textile Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 71% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Textile Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $47,533 one year after completing, rising to $73,882 after four years.
Materials from the clothes you're wearing to the couch in your living room were developed by a textile engineer. If you're interested in testing and developing both natural and synthetic fibers to create new types of materials, Textile Engineering is for you.
Textile Engineering majors use their math and science backgrounds to analyze and understand everything there is to know about textile fibers. You will take classes in industrial engineering, molecular synthesis, chemical manufacturing, and computer science to prepare you for an exciting career in this growing field.
A major in Textile Engineering covers Textile Sciences And Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, textile engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 285 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award textile engineering degrees, an average of 95 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 270.
By level, the 285 awards include 1 associate degrees, 202 bachelor’s degrees, 50 master’s degrees and 32 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of textile engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (226 of 285). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (164) and Asian (25), and international students earned 41.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Textile Engineering Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees, 1 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks textile engineering schools within 1 state. In all, 3 colleges offer textile engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Textile Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common textile engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 202 of the 285 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to textile engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, 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 Speech Clarity.
Students who are successful in Textile Engineering have a strong background in mathematics and science. You will be working on developing synthetic materials as well as improving current fibers used in textiles; critical thinking and creativity will help you in these tasks. Like other engineering fields, the ability to work in a team and manage multiple projects will make you successful.
Textile Engineering careers are often fulltime jobs in and office or research lab. Professionals typically carry a 40-hour workweek.
Employers prefer professionals who have previous experience, making internships and co-operative education programs necessary. These experiences will allow students to get a feel for the career in the real world and improve their skills before graduation.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a textile engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 202 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 50 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 32 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to textile engineering, at 40.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Textile Engineering, with an average median salary of $80,640; the strongest outlook belongs to Architectural and Engineering Managers, at 9.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Mechanical Drawing Teacher, Plastics Engineering Teacher, Research Professor and Mining Teacher.
There are many possibilities for Textile Engineering graduates. While some may go into clothing manufacturing, others have developed gear for outer space or underwater exploration, biocompatible organs for medical uses, and have created synthetic materials to replace overused organic materials. With the advancements in technology, the field is expanding and new career paths constantly emerging.
Depending on the type of job you wish to have after graduation, job outlook can vary. However, those with previous experience in the field will be more competitive in the job market.
The occupation related to textile 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% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
Textile Engineering graduates earn a median $47,533 one year after completing their program, $73,882 after four years and $71,193 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,533 |
| 4 years | $73,882 |
| 5 years | $71,193 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to textile engineering, with a median salary of $101,277.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
Textile Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Textile Sciences and Engineering (285). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,750 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | 285 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
