U.S. median for this major: $91,799.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 29% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,492.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $32,198. College Scorecard.
MSU Materials Engineering: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Materials Engineering nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses MSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,068 | $29,968 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $45,919 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $70,049 | 1.1 years |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $96,261 | 1.5 years |
| $110k+ | $28,546 | $121,035 | 1.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (65% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Materials Engineering graduates 4 years after graduating ($95,761) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $62,350 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Materials Engineering at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Materials Engineering graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $98,879 | $17,750 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Michigan State University | $95,761 | $27,925 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 3 | Michigan Technological University | $92,070 | $27,000 | $14,182 | 68% |
Careers for Materials Engineering graduates
Cost Estimators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -3.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Materials Engineers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at MSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About MSU
- Acceptance rate: 85% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 81% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $67,253
- Full cost breakdown · all 105 majors · overview
Related majors at MSU
- Mechanical Engineering$97,946
- Electrical Engineering$100,481
MSU Materials Engineering questions
How much do MSU Materials Engineering graduates earn?
Materials Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median $95,761 four years after graduating and $78,276 one year after. The U.S. median for Materials Engineering graduates across 34 colleges is $91,799.
How much debt do MSU Materials Engineering graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Materials Engineering graduates of Michigan State University is $27,925, about 29% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,492.
Is MSU a good school for Materials Engineering in Michigan?
On pay, Materials Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn $95,761 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Michigan colleges ($95,761) and $3,962 above the U.S. median ($91,799). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does MSU rank for Materials Engineering in Michigan?
Of 3 Michigan colleges reporting Materials Engineering graduate earnings, Michigan State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $98,879.
What jobs do Materials Engineering graduates get?
A common career is cost estimators, with a median wage of $78,310 in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI area and $78,740 nationally. Others include architectural and engineering managers and materials engineers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Michigan State University Materials Engineering: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/michigan-state-university/majors/materials-engineering (College Scorecard and BLS data).