2027 Best Value Materials Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Materials Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/materials-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for materials sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Materials Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the materials sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Materials Sciences Schools
University Of Delaware tops our 2027 list of the best value materials sciences schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete the materials sciences program here. Materials Sciences graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $54,155 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in materials sciences will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete the materials sciences program here. Early-career materials sciences graduates make about $52,403. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in materials sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for materials sciences graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, materials sciences degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values for materials sciences. 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 materials sciences graduates is $23,529. Materials Sciences graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value materials sciences schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the materials sciences program here. Early-career materials sciences graduates make about $72,216. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value materials sciences schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the materials sciences program here. Early-career materials sciences graduates make about $63,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.