2023 Best Value Colleges for Materials Sciences (Income $0-$30k)
24
Ranked Colleges
658
Degrees Awarded
$11,200
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Materials Sciences is the 265th most popular major in the country with 658 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, materials sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $64,925 and had an average of $26,966 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in materials sciences. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent materials sciences programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the materials sciences program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Materials Sciences Schools
The materials science school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Materials Sciences (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $245 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 74 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,450 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Berkeley.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UC Berkeley
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 22 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB also took the #2 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,568 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UCSB Materials Sciences Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #4 spot on the list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Materials Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,927 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Michigan State
University of Delaware did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. UD is located in Newark, Delaware and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UD, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Delaware is $13,726 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Delaware Materials Sciences Report
Florida State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Florida State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,950 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Florida State Materials Sciences Report
University of Arizona ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.
University of Arizona also took the #7 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $8,987 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Arizona.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University of Arizona
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $9,037 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UCLA
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 14 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also took the #12 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,810 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCR.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at UCR
University of Georgia landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $0-$30k list, UGA has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $8,303 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Georgia Materials Sciences Report
University at Buffalo landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University at Buffalo is a large school located in Buffalo, New York that handed out 27 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
University at Buffalo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University at Buffalo is $14,098 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full University at Buffalo Materials Sciences Report
University of Rochester landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rochester, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
University of Rochester did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Rochester is $12,915 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Rochester
Colorado State University - Fort Collins came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a large public school situated in Fort Collins, Colorado. It awarded 1 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $11,924 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Colorado State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full Colorado State Materials Sciences Report
Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 2 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
NAU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $10,520 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at NAU
Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue University Fort Wayne is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It awarded 1 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at PFW, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,414 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Materials Sciences Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Eau Claire, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Oregon State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Corvallis, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Oregon State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Oregon State University is $15,242 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Oregon State University Materials Sciences Report
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $12,381 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Missouri State Materials Sciences Report
Wayne State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wayne State University is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 8 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Wayne State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,060 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Wayne State Materials Sciences Report
With a ranking of #21, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of New Hampshire - Main Campus is a public institution located in Durham, New Hampshire. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of New Hampshire - Main Campus is $17,993 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UNH
Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Rochester, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
RIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for RIT is $28,322 for Materials Science students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at RIT
William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. William Paterson University is a public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
William Paterson University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $16,738 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William Paterson University of New Jersey.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Materials Sciences at William Paterson University
Rowan University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Glassboro, New Jersey is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Rowan also took the #23 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,693 for materials science students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rowan.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Rowan University Materials Sciences Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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