2027 Best Value General Materials Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[General Materials Science](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/general-materials-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for general materials science students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Materials Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general materials science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Materials Science Schools
For return on investment in general materials science, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the general materials science program here. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. Set against $14,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Delaware earned it the #2 place for general materials science. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Early-career general materials science graduates make about $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general materials science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Typical student debt for general materials science graduates is $23,529. General Materials Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the best values for general materials science. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. General Materials Science graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general materials science degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $72,216. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Other General Materials Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general materials science schools at other degree levels:
View All General Materials Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.