by our College Data Analytics TeamGeneral Materials Science was the 538th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 600 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 7.7% reduction in general materials science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 646.
This year's Best General Materials Science Schools ranking compares 19 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom general materials science rankings further below.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is a required skill for general materials science majors. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific general materials science careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
General Materials Science degree levels vary. General Materials Science programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest general materials science degree you can get. Different general materials science degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to general materials science, with approximately 31.1% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to general materials science tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 38.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 23.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 6.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.8% |
63.6% of general materials science workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in general materials science have received.
The education level required is different depending on the general materials science career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your general materials science degree? General Materials Science careers are expected to grow 7.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general materials science.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
| Materials Scientists | 8,500 | 7.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for general materials science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general materials science graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers general materials science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Materials Scientists | $102,450 |
With over 94 different general materials science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased general materials science school rankings to help you with this.
General Materials Science is one of 2 different types of Materials Sciences programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Other Materials Sciences | 33 |
| Materials Chemistry | 25 |
Image Credit: By Per Henning under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
