Materials Engineering: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$119,694 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$119,694Median year-4 earnings
$17,106Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$119,694Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
84thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
7Reporting programs
7With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,799
- Federal debt
- $23,250
- Reporting programs
- 37
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $119,694
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $128,018
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$111,351National median$119,69475th percentile$119,694
7 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Los Angeles$146,6292University of Washington-Seattle Campus$121,4203Arizona State University Campus Immersion$119,6944Arizona State University Digital Immersion$119,6945University of Florida$113,4166University of Dayton$111,3517Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$108,485Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 1 crosswalk linksCost EstimatorsSOC 13-1051 · 1 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 1 crosswalk linksMaterials EngineersSOC 17-2131 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $146,629 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $121,420 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionMaster's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $119,694 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionMaster's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $119,694 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 5 | University of FloridaMaster's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $113,416 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,541 |
| 6 | University of DaytonMaster's Degree | Dayton, OH | $111,351 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,533 |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityMaster's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $108,485 | Not available | Baseline needed | $24,953 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.