Compare 12 Materials Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $77,391.
With top graduates earning $87,537, Materials Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $10K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Michigan State University's Materials Engineering program leads with graduates earning $87,537, well above the $77,391 regional average. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor follows at $84,790, while Illinois Urbana-Champaign delivers $83,088—demonstrating that program-level factors drive outcomes across different institutional profiles.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 4.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, Winona State University leads with an 11.4% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $87,537
Strong outcomes ($87,537) with 84% acceptance
4.3% payment burden | Excellent
11.4% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $87,537 | 30 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $84,790 | 47 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #3 | $83,088 | 87 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $82,939 | 50 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $80,921 | 30 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $80,695 | 50 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,729 | Good | |
| #7 | $79,484 | 72 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #8 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $74,935 | 18 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,316 | Good |
| #9 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $73,620 | 55 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Manageable |
| #10 | $69,175 | 16 | $23,000 | Excellent | $16,149 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $68,499 | 64 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Manageable | |
| #12 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $63,005 | 14 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
