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Textile Sciences & Engineering

Types of Degrees Textile Sciences & Engineering Majors Are Earning

Those studying Textile Sciences & Engineering may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	194
Master’s Degree	58
Doctor’s Degree	23

What Textile Sciences & Engineering Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Textile Sciences & Engineering build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Textile Sciences & Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.7 / 5; level 6.0 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Design — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Textile Sciences & Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Textile Sciences & Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.5 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.5 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Textile Sciences & Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management	Project management software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	—
Computer aided design CAD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates include:

• Machine Design Teacher
• Lecturer
• Instructor
• Electrical Engineering Lecturer
• Sanitary Engineering Teacher
• Automotive Engineering Teacher
• Aeronautics Teacher
• Applied Mechanics Teacher
• Theoretical Mechanics Teacher
• Ceramic Engineering Professor
• Drawing Instructor
• Mechanical Engineering Teacher
• Drafting Teacher
• Agricultural Engineering Teacher
• Metallurgy Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	40.6%
Bachelor’s degree	17.5%
Post-master’s certificate	12.8%
Master’s degree	12.2%
Post-doctoral training	12.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.3%
First professional degree	1.2%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.0%
Postsecondary certificate	1.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Textile Sciences & Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 80% of Textile Sciences & Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	220	80.0%
Men	55	20.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	181	65.8%
Asian	15	5.5%
Hispanic or Latino	16	5.8%
Black or African American	15	5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.4%
Two or More Races	6	2.2%
International Students	41	14.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Textile Sciences & Engineering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$47,533
4 years	$57,894
5 years	$71,193

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $71,193 — roughly 50% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Textile Sciences & Engineering Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Textile Sciences & Engineering graduates earn a median of $57,894 four years after completion — roughly 52% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Textile Sciences and Engineering	14.28
Ceramic Sciences and Engineering	14.0601
Materials Engineering	14.1801
Metallurgical Engineering	14.2001
Polymer/Plastics Engineering	14.3201
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General	14.0201
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Other	14.0299
Agricultural Engineering	14.0301
Architectural Engineering	14.0401
Astronautical Engineering	14.0202
Biochemical Engineering	14.4301

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.