Materials Sciences graduates earn $94,684 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 8.3%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Materials Scientist is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
This page covers Materials Sciences as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Physical Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Materials Sciences is a focused area of study within Physical Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $94,684 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 68 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 679 students complete it each year, most walking away with a master's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$72,216
Median Earnings · 4yr
$94,684
Colleges Offering
68
Graduates / Year
679
Avg Net Price / yr
$22,897
How Much Do Materials Sciences Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Materials Sciences, a typical graduate earns $94,684, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $73,395 and $112,834, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$94,684
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$106,289
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Materials Sciences graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$73,39525th pct.
$94,684Median
$112,83475th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $94,684 against an estimated $91,588 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 16 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 679 students who complete Materials Sciences programs each year, the majority (42%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
25%42%31%
Master's42%
Doctorate31%
Bachelor's25%
What Can You Do With a Materials Sciences Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Materials Sciences graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Architectural & Engineering Manager pays the most at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Complex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningScienceCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research and study the structures and chemical properties of various natural and synthetic or composite materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers, and glass. Determine ways to strengthen or combine materials or develop new materials with new or specific properties for use in a variety of products and applications. Includes glass scientists, ceramic scientists, metallurgical scientists, and polymer scientists.
Conduct research on the structures and properties of materials, such as metals, alloys, polymers, and ceramics, to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.
Test metals to determine conformance to specifications of mechanical strength, strength-weight ratio, ductility, magnetic and electrical properties, and resistance to abrasion, corrosion, heat, and cold.
Test material samples for tolerance under tension, compression, and shear to determine the cause of metal failures.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and chemical separation.
Establish, teach, and monitor students' compliance with safety rules for handling chemicals, equipment, and other hazardous materials.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory performance, assignments, and papers.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
Develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.
Analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.
Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
Top Colleges for Materials Sciences
Not sure where to study Materials Sciences? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Materials Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Physical Sciences Programs
Materials Sciences is not the only path through Physical Sciences: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Materials Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Materials Sciences a solid option. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $94,684 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $72,216 at graduation to $94,684 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.3% over the next decade, with Materials Scientist among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 36,200 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
$94,684 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $73,395 and $112,834, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Materials Sciences degree?
$72,216 in the first year out. That grows to $94,684 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Materials Sciences degree?
Architectural & Engineering Manager is one path, and it pays a median of $171,270 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Materials Sciences program take?
Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Materials Sciences students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.
How many colleges offer Materials Sciences?
68 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Materials Sciences degree worth it?
$94,684 median earnings four years out against $22,897 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Materials Sciences and Physical Sciences?
Materials Sciences is the narrower of the two: Physical Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Materials Sciences-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Materials Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Materials Sciences graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Materials Sciences graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Materials Sciences graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +6.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Materials Scientist is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Physical Sciences Programs
Other programs in Physical Sciences. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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