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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Materials Engineering

79 Ranked Colleges
770 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 3,476 people earned their degree in materials engineering, making the major the 154th most popular in the United States. In , materials engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $65,007 and had an average of $22,256 in loans still to pay off.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 770 materials engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major” ranking, we looked at 79 colleges that offer a degree in materials engineering. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their materials engineering program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree materials engineering students.

Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Materials Engineering

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Caltech is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 7 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at California Institute of Technology

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 41 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at MIT

3
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado School of Mines. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major. Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, Colorado and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

4

Out of the 79 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Socorro, New Mexico, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Materials Engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

5
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major. Stanford, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 30 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%.

Full Stanford University Materials Engineering Report

6

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 20 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Georgia Tech

7

Michigan Technological University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 4 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Michigan Technological University

8
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 26 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at Northwestern

9
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, New York

With a ranking of #9, Alfred University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Alfred is a small school located in Alfred, New York that handed out 2 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Alfred

10

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. RPI is a medium-sized school located in Troy, New York that handed out 12 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

11
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #11. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Materials Engineering Report

12
Tuskegee crest
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Alabama

Tuskegee University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Tuskegee is located in Tuskegee, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Tuskegee

13

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Materials Engineering at UT Knoxville

14

With a ranking of #14, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 6 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Materials Engineering Report

15
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

16

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at SD Mines

17

University of California - San Diego landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 27 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at UCSD

18
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified doctorate’s materials engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Materials Engineering at Lehigh University

19

New Jersey Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking, coming in at #19. NJIT is a fairly large school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 6 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology

20

Boise State University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Located in Boise, Idaho, this large public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified doctorate’s materials engineering students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at Boise State University

21
UCONN crest
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut

University of Connecticut landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Located in Storrs, Connecticut, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s materials engineering students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Materials Engineering at University of Connecticut

22

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 18 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Materials Engineering Report

23
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. North Carolina State University is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 22 doctorate’s materials engineering degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full NC State Materials Engineering Report

24
SUNY Stony Brook crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York

Stony Brook University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major ranking. Stony Brook, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s materials engineering degrees to 13 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Stony Brook University Materials Engineering Report

25

With a ranking of #25, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Materials Engineering Major list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 13 degrees to qualified doctorate’s materials engineering students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Materials Engineering at U-M

Notes and References

References

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