by our College Data Analytics TeamMaterials Chemistry was the 1,213 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 25 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 1 over the prior year, a growth of 4.0%.
Our 2023 Best Materials Chemistry Schools ranking analyzes 1 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for materials chemistry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of materials chemistry programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in materials chemistry is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Required skills include using scientific rules and methods to solve problems and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most materials chemistry degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic materials chemistry program qualifications, to serve in some materials chemistry careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Materials Chemistry degree levels vary. Materials Chemistry programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest materials chemistry degree you can get. The type of materials chemistry degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| 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 materials chemistry, with approximately 41.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for materials chemistry workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 41.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 22.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 19.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 11.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.3% |
52.5% of materials chemistry workers have at least a master's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in materials chemistry have received.
The education level required is different depending on the materials chemistry career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your materials chemistry degree? Materials Chemistry careers are expected to grow 8.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to materials chemistry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Chemists | 94,000 | 6.5% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Chemistry Professors | 28,900 | 9.9% |
| Materials Scientists | 8,500 | 7.6% |
As you might expect, salaries for materials chemistry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for materials chemistry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers materials chemistry grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Materials Scientists | $102,450 |
| Chemistry Professors | $92,360 |
| Chemists | $83,850 |
With over 7 different materials chemistry 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 materials chemistry school rankings to help you with this.
Materials Chemistry is one of 2 different types of Materials Sciences programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Materials Science | 600 |
| Other Materials Sciences | 33 |
Image Credit: By Per Henning under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
