Best colleges for Polymer/Plastics Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of synthesized macromolecular compounds and their application to specific engineering uses, including the development of industrial materials with tailored properties, the design of lightweight structural components, the use of liquid or solid polymers, and the analysis and control of polymerization processes.
13 U.S. institutions graduated 212 Polymer/Plastics Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.3201, a specialization of Polymer/Plastics Engineering (CIP 14.32), and leads most directly to the Materials Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2131).
About Polymer/Plastics Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of synthesized macromolecular compounds and their application to specific engineering uses, including the development of industrial materials with tailored properties, the design of lightweight structural components, the use of liquid or solid polymers, and the analysis and control of polymerization processes.
See also: 40.0507 - Polymer Chemistry.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Polymer/Plastics Engineering program focuses on applying mathematical and scientific principles to the design and development of macromolecular compounds. This program is ideal for students interested in creating innovative materials and solutions for various engineering applications, including lightweight structural components and industrial materials with specific properties.
Students will gain essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in engineering, chemistry, and physics. Coursework typically includes hands-on experience with material testing, processing procedures, and quality assurance.
Credentials awarded
What Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree99 graduates / yr · 7 institutions47%
- Master's degree60 graduates / yr · 8 institutions28%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship47 graduates / yr · 7 institutions22%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate6 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.8%
Graduates over time
Polymer/Plastics Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 255 |
| 2013 | 266 |
| 2014 | 281 |
| 2015 | 277 |
| 2016 | 279 |
| 2017 | 400 |
| 2018 | 347 |
| 2019 | 387 |
| 2020 | 330 |
| 2021 | 360 |
| 2022 | 325 |
| 2023 | 290 |
| 2024 | 264 |
| 2025 | 212 |
Top 13 institutions for Polymer/Plastics 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 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 56 | 65% | — | $77,114 |
| 2 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MSPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 49% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 83% | — | — |
| 4 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie, PAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 44% | — | — |
| 5 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 18 | 65% | — | $60,375 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WIPublicBachelor's | 15 | 55% | — | $75,800 |
| 7 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 88% | $26,912 | — |
| 8 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 52% | — | — |
| 9 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 87% | $27,976 | — |
| 10 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PAPublicBachelor's | 8 | 53% | — | $71,651 |
| 11 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 4 | 86% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 90% | — | — |
| 13 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicMaster's | 1 | 82% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Polymer/Plastics Engineering field (CIP 14.32) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Polymer/Plastics Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 2 | 75 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell56 / yr |
| Mississippi | 1 | 43 | University of Southern Mississippi43 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | 36 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College18 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 18 | University of Akron Main Campus9 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 18 | Western Washington University18 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 17 | University of Wisconsin-Stout15 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University4 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | Auburn University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2131, Materials Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Polymer/Plastics Engineering program can pursue careers as Materials Engineers, Chemical Engineers, and Engineering Teachers, among others. With a median wage of $108,310 and a projected growth rate of 5.7%, the field offers approximately 1,500 annual job openings, making it a promising career choice.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.3201
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 |
Chemical Engineers SOC 17-2041 | $125,040 | +2.6% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | 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 Polymer/Plastics 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 this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a Postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, science, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Materials Engineer, Chemical Engineer, or in various engineering management roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 5.7% and about 1,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Polymer/Plastics Engineering?+
Polymer/Plastics Engineering is CIP 14.3201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Polymer/Plastics Engineering (CIP 14.32). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of synthesized macromolecular compounds and their application to specific engineering uses, including the development of industrial materials with tailored properties, the design of lightweight structural components, the use of liquid or solid polymers, and the analysis and control of polymerization processes.
How many institutions offer Polymer/Plastics Engineering programs?+
13 U.S. institutions reported Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 212 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates.
How much do Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Materials Engineers occupation, which Polymer/Plastics Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $112,860 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Polymer/Plastics Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $75,800, 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 Polymer/Plastics Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Polymer/Plastics Engineering program page.
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