Compare 35 Materials Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $87,750. Top programs: $107,557+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Materials Engineering tells a different story. Across 35 programs, earnings range from $58,221 to $107,557—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The gap between the top and bottom program exceeds $49K, making program-level evaluation far more useful than defaulting to institutional prestige.
Topping the list, Purdue University's Materials Engineering program delivers $107,557 in median graduate earnings—well above the $87,750 average across all 35 ranked programs. UC Irvine follows closely at $106,547, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo rounds out the top three at $100,599. All three are public institutions, underscoring that program outcomes here have little to do with private school prestige.
Strong earnings are only half the equation—debt burden determines what graduates actually keep. UC Irvine leads on affordability: students borrow $15,000 and face just a 2.4% payment burden, earning an 'Excellent' GPS rating. For families weighing parent loans, UC Irvine again leads with a 6.7% combined burden—still 'Excellent'—meaning loan payments take a minimal bite out of post-grad income at every level.
Highest program earnings: $107,557
Strong outcomes ($95,761) with 85% acceptance rate
2.4% payment burden | Excellent
6.7% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $107,557 | 74 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #2 | $106,547 | 37 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Excellent | |
| #3 | $100,599 | 48 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #4 | $98,879 | 42 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #5 | $97,924 | 87 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #6 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $97,904 | 9 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #7 | $97,714 | 33 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Good | |
| #8 | $95,761 | 28 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $95,314 | 63 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #10 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $94,694 | 17 | $25,325 | Excellent | $40,932 | Manageable |
| #11 | $93,464 | 24 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,324 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $92,260 | 75 | $21,672 | Excellent | $32,216 | Good | |
| #13 | $92,070 | 20 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Good | |
| #14 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $91,528 | 19 | $21,500 | Excellent | $19,316 | Good |
| #15 | $91,265 | 47 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Good | |
| #16 | $90,828 | 66 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $89,983 | 24 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Good | |
| #18 | $89,968 | 43 | $20,121 | Excellent | $23,000 | Good | |
| #19 | $89,913 | 34 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Good | |
| #20 | University Of FloridaPublic | $87,779 | 53 | $15,000 | Excellent | $18,837 | Excellent |
| #21 | $86,145 | 20 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,968 | Good | |
| #22 | $86,084 | 58 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Good | |
| #23 | Clemson UniversityPublic | $85,883 | 24 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,463 | Manageable |
| #24 | University Of KentuckyPublic | $84,796 | 13 | $22,500 | Excellent | $30,006 | Manageable |
| #25 | $83,985 | 15 | $22,300 | Excellent | $20,498 | Good |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
