Best colleges for Metallurgical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of metal components of structural, load-bearing, power, transmission, and moving systems; and the analysis of engineering problems such as stress, creep, failure, alloy behavior, environmental fluctuations, stability, electromagnetic and thermodynamic characteristics, optimal manufacturing processes, and related design considerations.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 142 Metallurgical Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.2001, a specialization of Metallurgical Engineering (CIP 14.20), and leads most directly to the Materials Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2131).
About Metallurgical Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of metal components of structural, load-bearing, power, transmission, and moving systems; and the analysis of engineering problems such as stress, creep, failure, alloy behavior, environmental fluctuations, stability, electromagnetic and thermodynamic characteristics, optimal manufacturing processes, and related design considerations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
Metallurgical Engineering is a specialized program that prepares students to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles in the design and evaluation of metal components used in various systems. This program is ideal for individuals interested in solving engineering problems related to materials, such as stress, failure, and optimal manufacturing processes.
Students in Metallurgical Engineering will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics. Coursework typically includes knowledge in engineering technology, chemistry, physics, and production processes, equipping graduates with the tools necessary to analyze and improve material performance.
Credentials awarded
What Metallurgical Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree103 graduates / yr · 9 institutions73%
- Master's degree28 graduates / yr · 4 institutions20%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship11 graduates / yr · 3 institutions7.7%
Graduates over time
Metallurgical Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 182 |
| 2013 | 164 |
| 2014 | 163 |
| 2015 | 178 |
| 2016 | 229 |
| 2017 | 230 |
| 2018 | 217 |
| 2019 | 235 |
| 2020 | 207 |
| 2021 | 179 |
| 2022 | 189 |
| 2023 | 195 |
| 2024 | 164 |
| 2025 | 142 |
Top 9 institutions for Metallurgical Engineering, 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 | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado School of Mines Golden, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 58 | 82% | — | $78,984 |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 73% | — | — |
| 3 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TXPublicBachelor's | 17 | 50% | — | $53,478 |
| 4 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, SDPublicBachelor's | 14 | 53% | — | $71,985 |
| 5 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MOPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 13 | 64% | — | $80,627 |
| 6 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 11 | 65% | — | — |
| 7 | Montana Technological University Butte, MTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 8 | LeTourneau University Longview, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 59% | $24,186 | — |
| 9 | University of Nevada-Reno Reno, NVPublicBachelor's | 2 | 61% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Metallurgical Engineering field (CIP 14.20) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Metallurgical Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Metallurgical Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1 | 58 | Colorado School of Mines58 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 20 | The University of Texas at El Paso17 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 18 | The University of Alabama18 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 14 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology14 / yr |
| Missouri | 1 | 13 | Missouri University of Science and Technology13 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 11 | University of Utah11 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 6 | Montana Technological University6 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 2 | University of Nevada-Reno2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2131, Materials Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Metallurgical Engineering can pursue careers as Materials Engineers, with an outlook for job growth at 5.7% and approximately 1,500 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $108,310, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.2001
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 Engineersprimary SOC 17-2131 | $112,860 | +5.7% Faster than average | ~1,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional 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 Metallurgical Engineering 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
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
- Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- Modify properties of metal alloys, using thermal and mechanical treatments.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in Metallurgical Engineering?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Materials Engineer, Architectural and Engineering Manager, or Engineering Teacher.
What is the job outlook for Metallurgical Engineering graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.7%.
What is the CIP code for Metallurgical Engineering?+
Metallurgical Engineering is CIP 14.2001 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Metallurgical Engineering (CIP 14.20). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of metal components of structural, load-bearing, power, transmission, and moving systems; and the analysis of engineering problems such as stress, creep, failure, alloy behavior, environmental fluctuations, stability, electromagnetic and thermodynamic characteristics, optimal manufacturing processes, and related design considerations.
How many institutions offer Metallurgical Engineering programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Metallurgical Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 142 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Metallurgical Engineering graduates.
How much do Metallurgical Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Materials Engineers occupation, which Metallurgical Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $112,860 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Metallurgical Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,984, College Scorecard.
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. This specialization accounts for nearly all Metallurgical Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Metallurgical Engineering program page.
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