2023 Best Value Colleges for Materials Sciences (Income $30-$48k)
24
Ranked Colleges
658
Degrees Awarded
$12,800
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 658 people earned their degree in materials sciences, making the major the 265th most popular in the United States. 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 $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in materials sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great materials sciences programs and 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Materials Sciences Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Materials Sciences (Income $30-$48k)
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $917 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 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 $30-$48k list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school handed out 74 degrees to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,999 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC Berkeley.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Materials Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 2 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also took the #11 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNC Chapel Hill is $5,729 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 UNC Chapel Hill
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSB is $11,606 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University of California - Santa Barbara
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Delaware landed the #5 spot on the list. Newark, Delaware is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
UD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Delaware is $14,583 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UD
Florida State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $7,349 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at Florida State University
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 14 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCLA has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,891 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCLA.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of California - Los Angeles
University of Arizona did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 27 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Arizona, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $10,160 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Arizona
University of California - Riverside landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. 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 $8,193 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full UCR Materials Sciences Report
University of Rochester came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $17,764 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Rochester.
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. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Rochester
University of Georgia landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k 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.
UGA also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend UGA is $10,688 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, 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 94%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at UGA
Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $12,736 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Colorado State Materials Sciences Report
Northern Arizona University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, NAU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NAU is $11,320 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
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 Northern Arizona University
Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
PFW also took the #24 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend PFW is $8,427 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Purdue University Fort Wayne Materials Sciences Report
Michigan State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Michigan State 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 made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $15,170 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Michigan State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Michigan State
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. University of Wisconsin - 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. It costs about $10,658 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
University at Buffalo came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University at Buffalo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University at Buffalo is $17,022 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University at Buffalo
With a ranking of #18, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 8 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $11,414 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at Wayne State
Oregon State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oregon State is a large school located in Corvallis, Oregon that handed out 7 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Oregon State also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Oregon State is $17,173 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Oregon State
With a ranking of #20, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, Missouri State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $13,144 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Missouri State
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of New Hampshire - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Durham, New Hampshire that handed out 1 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNH has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNH is $17,650 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
With a ranking of #22, Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. RIT is a fairly large school located in Rochester, New York that handed out 19 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students whose families make $30-$48k list, RIT has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend RIT is $28,857 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology
With a ranking of #23, William Paterson University of New Jersey did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. William Paterson University is a medium-sized public school situated in Wayne, New Jersey. It awarded 9 ’s materials science 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. The estimated yearly cost for William Paterson University of New Jersey is $16,554 for materials science students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at William Paterson University of New Jersey
With a ranking of #24, Rowan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Glassboro, New Jersey, and it awarded 1 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Rowan also took the #23 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rowan University is $21,292 for Materials Science students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Rowan University
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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.
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