Materials Engineering Schools and Programs in The United States

Materials Engineering Studies in The United States

Materials engineering, usually called materials science and engineering (MSE) in the United States, deals with the structure, processing and properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors and other materials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), materials engineers develop, process and test the materials used to create a wide range of products. The subject is taught in the engineering school of a university, usually in its own department.

SpainExchange lists 37 colleges and universities in the United States under materials engineering.

How the degree is organised

• Bachelor's degree: usually four years of full-time study. Programmes usually include classroom and laboratory courses such as calculus, chemistry, and the structure, processing and properties of materials. This is the typical requirement for entry-level jobs
• Master's degree: typically two years of additional specialisation
• Doctorate (PhD): a research degree of five to eight years. Some jobs, such as those in research and development, require a master's degree or PhD
• Community college: two-year associate degrees whose credits can count towards a bachelor's degree at a university

Purdue University gives a clear picture of the bachelor's degree. Its students share the first-year engineering programme with all other engineering students and enter the School of Materials Engineering in the second year. The first three years form a core built around processing, structure, properties and performance, across metals, ceramics and polymers; the final year is mainly elective and includes a year-long capstone project developed with companies. Purdue states that its junior and senior classes typically have 20 to 25 students.

Departments differ in emphasis. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) names nanotechnology, biomaterials and energy materials among its research areas and offers undergraduate, master's and doctoral study. Stanford University's department describes a focus on the structures and properties of nanoscale components. BLS notes that some universities offer internships and cooperative programmes with industry employers.

Admission and language

International students apply directly to each college or university. U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Each university reviews the subjects an applicant studied abroad and may ask for a report from a credential evaluation agency. BLS advises school students who want to become materials engineers to take mathematics (algebra, trigonometry, calculus), science (biology, chemistry, physics) and computer programming.

Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the student receives a Form I-20 from the school's international student office and uses it to apply for the F student visa.

Costs

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at four-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private non-profit institutions. At public two-year institutions the average was $4,000. The public figures are in-district or in-state rates; international students should check which rate applies to them.

Where to study materials engineering

Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dayton each have two schools in this directory: the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University; Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania; and Wright State University and the University of Dayton. Other examples are MIT in Cambridge, Stanford University, Northwestern University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Colorado School of Mines, The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, Purdue University and The University of California at Berkeley. Tacoma Community College and Montgomery College are two-year colleges in the list.

Accreditation and licensing

Engineering programmes are accredited by ABET, whose Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) accredits bachelor's and master's programmes. ABET accredits programmes only, not departments or institutions, and it is not a ranking system. Purdue, for example, states that its BS in Materials Science and Engineering is EAC-accredited. Students should check the status of each programme in ABET's own search.

A licence is not required for entry-level materials engineering jobs. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) licence, which each state issues. According to NCEES, licensing boards generally require a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited programme, most states require four years of work experience, and candidates typically must pass the FE and PE exams. This is why ABET accreditation matters for students who may want a PE licence later. Students who plan to work in their home country should ask there how a U.S. degree is recognised.

Careers

Materials engineers work in offices, factories and research and development laboratories. According to BLS, they held about 23,800 jobs in 2025. Employment is projected to grow 8% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 1,300 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study materials engineering in the United States?

A bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study. A master's degree typically adds two years, and a doctorate five to eight years.

Do I need a licence to work as a materials engineer?

Not for entry-level positions, according to BLS. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineering (PE) licence from a state.

Why does ABET accreditation matter?

Engineering licensing boards generally require PE candidates to hold a bachelor's degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited programme, according to NCEES.

Can I start at a community college?

Yes. A student can spend two years at a community college and then two years at a university to earn a bachelor's degree.