2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools
24
Ranked Colleges
658
Degrees Awarded
$18,300
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Materials Science Schools” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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” 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Materials Science Schools
The colleges and universities below are the best for materials science students.
Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Materials Sciences
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Delaware landed the #1 spot on the list. UD is a large public school situated in Newark, Delaware. It awarded 17 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UD also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $18,967 for Materials Science students per year to attend UD.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 University of Delaware
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #2 spot on the list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 12 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $16,718 for materials science students per year to attend Missouri State.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at Missouri State University - Springfield
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 9 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $16,051 for Materials Science students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.
Full UW - Eau Claire Materials Sciences Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Materials Science Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #4 spot on the list. University of California - Santa Barbara is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 22 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $16,252 for materials science students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full University of California - Santa Barbara Materials Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Arizona University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Materials Science Schools. Northern Arizona University is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 2 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $14,308 for Materials Science students per year to attend NAU.
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 NAU Materials Sciences Report
University at Buffalo ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. This large school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 27 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University at Buffalo, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University at Buffalo is $19,262 for Materials Science students.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University at Buffalo
Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking, coming in at #7. 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 also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $9,946 for materials science students.
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
Rowan University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. Located in Glassboro, New Jersey, this fairly large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students list, Rowan has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rowan University is $27,158 for materials science students.
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 Rowan University
University of Georgia came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science students in 2020-2021.
UGA also took the #16 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,257 for Materials Science students per year to attend UGA.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UGA Materials Sciences Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 2 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $12,469 for Materials Science students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Materials Sciences at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Wayne, New Jersey, and it awarded 9 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at William Paterson University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend William Paterson University is $18,498 for materials science students.
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 full report on Materials Sciences at William Paterson University
With a ranking of #12, Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools list. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Colorado State also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $18,679 for materials science students per year to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 University - Fort Collins Materials Sciences Report
Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. 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.
PFW also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $11,629 for Materials Science students per year to attend PFW.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at PFW
Oregon State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. Oregon State is a large public school situated in Corvallis, Oregon. It awarded 7 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students list, Oregon State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $21,508 for Materials Science students per year to attend Oregon State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 Oregon State Materials Sciences Report
University of Arizona came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our materials science students list, University of Arizona has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arizona is $13,358 for Materials Science students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at University of Arizona
University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking, coming in at #16. University of California - Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCR also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend UCR is $11,822 for materials science students.
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%.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at UCR
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking, coming in at #17. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 74 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $16,032 for materials science students.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UC Berkeley
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. UNH is located in Durham, New Hampshire and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
UNH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of New Hampshire - Main Campus is $24,160 for Materials Science students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 86%.
Read more about Materials Sciences at UNH
Michigan State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 11 ’s materials science degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $19,058 for Materials Science students 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%.
Full Michigan State University Materials Sciences Report
Wayne State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 8 students 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. It costs about $13,962 for materials science students per year to attend Wayne State University.
Read full report on Materials Sciences at Wayne State
University of California - Los Angeles landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. 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 also took the #8 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $15,023 for materials science students per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.
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%.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Materials Sciences Report
University of Rochester landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Materials Science Schools ranking. Located in Rochester, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s materials science 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 $31,340 for Materials Science students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Rochester Materials Sciences Report
Rochester Institute of Technology ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s materials science degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at RIT, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $34,822 for Materials Science students per year to attend Rochester Institute of Technology.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
Full RIT Materials Sciences Report
Northwestern University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Materials Science Schools list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s materials science degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern also made our “Best Materials Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $23,279 for Materials Science students.
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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Materials Sciences at Northwestern
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Switch to a More Focused Major
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
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
college factual
