Best institutions to study Materials Sciences
Any instructional program in materials sciences not listed above.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 22 Materials Sciences students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.1099, a specialization of Materials Sciences (CIP 40.10), and leads most directly to the Materials Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2032).
About Materials Sciences programs
Any instructional program in materials sciences not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Materials Sciences program focuses on the study of materials and their properties, encompassing metals, polymers, ceramics, and more. This program is designed for students interested in exploring the structure and functionality of materials to innovate and improve products across various industries. It is suitable for those who are passionate about science and technology and wish to apply their knowledge in practical settings.
Students in the Materials Sciences program gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active learning. They acquire knowledge in engineering, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, preparing them for hands-on research and development of new materials and products.
Credentials awarded
What Materials Sciences graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree14 graduates / yr · 3 institutions64%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions36%
Graduates over time
Materials Sciences completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 33 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 22 |
Top 5 institutions for Materials Sciences, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 88% | $29,023 |
| 2 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, NDPublicDoctoral | 5 | 64% | — |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 94% | $23,803 |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 3 | 94% | $14,126 |
| 5 | Coppin State University Baltimore, MDPublicMaster's | 1 | 26% | — |
Offered in 5 states
Where Materials Sciences graduates come from. Each state links to all Materials Sciences programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 8 | New York University8 / yr |
| North Dakota | 1 | 5 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus5 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 5 | Carnegie Mellon University5 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 3 | Washington University in St Louis3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 1 | Coppin State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2032, Materials Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Materials Sciences program can pursue careers as Materials Scientists, Postsecondary Teachers, or Natural Sciences Managers. The job outlook for materials scientists is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 600 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $104,160, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.1099
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Materials Scientistsprimary SOC 19-2032 | $117,790 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~600 | Bachelor's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Materials Sciences programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare reports, manuscripts, proposals, and technical manuals for use by other scientists and requestors, such as sponsors and customers.
- Plan laboratory experiments to confirm feasibility of processes and techniques used in the production of materials with special characteristics.
Tools and technology used
Other Materials Sciences specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Materials Sciences (CIP 40.10).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Materials Sciences?+
You can earn a Master's degree or a Doctor's degree in Materials Sciences.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, science, mathematics, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Materials Scientist, Postsecondary Teacher, or Natural Sciences Manager.
What is the job outlook for Materials Scientists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9% and around 600 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Materials Sciences?+
Materials Sciences is CIP 40.1099 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Materials Sciences (CIP 40.10). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in materials sciences not listed above.
How many institutions offer Materials Sciences programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported Materials Sciences graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 22 credentials in the year. That is 3.5% of all Materials Sciences graduates.
How much do Materials Sciences graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Materials Scientists occupation, which Materials Sciences most directly leads to, pays a median of $117,790 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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