Best colleges for Textile Sciences and Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems to test and manufacture fibers and fiber products, both synthetic and natural; to develop new and improved fibers, textiles and their uses; and to the analysis of related engineering problems such as structural factors, molecular synthesis, chemical manufacturing, weaves, strength and stress, useful life, dyes, and applications to composite systems.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 285 Textile Sciences and Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.2801, a specialization of Textile Sciences and Engineering (CIP 14.28), and leads most directly to the Materials Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2131).
About Textile Sciences and Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems to test and manufacture fibers and fiber products, both synthetic and natural; to develop new and improved fibers, textiles and their uses; and to the analysis of related engineering problems such as structural factors, molecular synthesis, chemical manufacturing, weaves, strength and stress, useful life, dyes, and applications to composite systems.
See also: 19.0904 - Textile Science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Textile Sciences and Engineering program prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles in the design, development, and evaluation of fibers and fiber products. This program is ideal for individuals interested in the intersection of engineering and textiles, focusing on both synthetic and natural materials.
Students will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, along with knowledge in engineering, chemistry, and physics. Coursework will cover topics such as material performance analysis, product testing, and the evaluation of design objectives.
Credentials awarded
What Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree202 graduates / yr · 2 institutions71%
- Master's degree42 graduates / yr · 2 institutions15%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship32 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate7 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.5%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Textile Sciences and Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 331 |
| 2013 | 307 |
| 2014 | 327 |
| 2015 | 319 |
| 2016 | 359 |
| 2017 | 354 |
| 2018 | 359 |
| 2019 | 366 |
| 2020 | 317 |
| 2021 | 308 |
| 2022 | 297 |
| 2023 | 292 |
| 2024 | 275 |
| 2025 | 285 |
Top 3 institutions for Textile Sciences and 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 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 270 | 85% | — | $45,078 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 69% | $26,034 | — |
| 3 | Gaston College Dallas, NCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 63% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Textile Sciences and Engineering field (CIP 14.28) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 2 states
Where Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Textile Sciences and Engineering programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2 | 272 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh270 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 13 | Thomas Jefferson University13 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2131, Materials Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Materials Engineers, with a job outlook that is faster than average, projecting a growth rate of 5.7%. With an estimated 1,500 annual openings and a median wage of $108,310, a Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry into this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.2801
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 Textile Sciences and 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 after graduation?+
You can work as a Materials Engineer, Architectural and Engineering Manager, or Engineering Teacher.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 5.7% and approximately 1,500 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Textile Sciences and Engineering?+
Textile Sciences and Engineering is CIP 14.2801 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Textile Sciences and Engineering (CIP 14.28). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems to test and manufacture fibers and fiber products, both synthetic and natural; to develop new and improved fibers, textiles and their uses; and to the analysis of related engineering problems such as structural factors, molecular synthesis, chemical manufacturing, weaves, strength and stress, useful life, dyes, and applications to composite systems.
How many institutions offer Textile Sciences and Engineering programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 285 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates.
How much do Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Materials Engineers occupation, which Textile Sciences and Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $112,860 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Textile Sciences and Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,078, 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 Textile Sciences and Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Textile Sciences and Engineering program page.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card