Best colleges for Materials Engineering in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University and Drexel University award the most Materials Engineering degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania: 81, 56 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 6 Pennsylvania colleges offer Materials Engineering and award 233 degrees and certificates a year in all.
Materials Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding the relationships between the structure of materials and their properties. This program is designed for students interested in how materials are processed…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,623 | 41 | 78% | $36,004 | $31,000 |
| 2 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,971 | 26 | 88% | $26,912 | $26,324 |
Colleges awarding the most Materials Engineering degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 81 | Not reported |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 56 | Not reported |
| 3 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 41 | $78,623 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 5 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 26 | $74,971 |
| 6 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Materials Engineers (SOC 17-2131).
Top skills
What Materials Engineers earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Materials Engineering programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Materials Engineering degrees?+
University of Pennsylvania (81 graduates a year), Pennsylvania State University (56 graduates a year) and Drexel University (41 graduates a year) award the most Materials Engineering degrees and certificates in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 6 Pennsylvania colleges offer Materials Engineering.
Which Materials Engineering program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Drexel University tops the list at $78,623. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Materials Engineers earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Materials Engineers in Pennsylvania is $106,560 (median $98,030), across about 720 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Materials Engineering program?+
Materials Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding the relationships between the structure of materials and their properties. This program is designed for students interested in how materials are processed…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, science, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Materials Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +5.7% growth with around 1,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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