2026 Best Materials Sciences Schools
Looking for the best Materials Sciences programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 68 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Materials Sciences Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Rochester Institute Of Technology this year in the United States. Set in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Rochester Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $27,491. Read the full report on Rochester Institute Of Technology
You'll be in good company at Northwestern University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Northwestern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read more about Northwestern University
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #3 on this year's Materials Sciences ranking in the United States. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. University Of California Santa Barbara Materials Sciences students take on a median of $15,501 in debt. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Barbara
You'll be in good company at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $20,031. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
You'll be in good company at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $14,238. Read the full report on University Of California Berkeley
University Of Delaware did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Delaware
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $25,234. See the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst profile
University Of Arizona placed #8 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Based in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. University Of Arizona posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Get the full University Of Arizona report
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Eau Claire, WI, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public institution. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $22,574. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire report
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Read the full report on Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Rochester ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit school based in Rochester, NY. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $21,517. Read more about University Of Rochester
University Of California Los Angeles placed #12 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. More on University Of California Los Angeles
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Based in Wayne, NJ, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, with out-of-state students paying around $25,344. Graduates carry a median of $25,644 in student loans. See the full William Paterson University Of New Jersey profile
Michigan State University placed #14 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Read the full report on Michigan State University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Set in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $15,117. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill report
Missouri State University Springfield placed #16 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Set in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Missouri State University Springfield posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Missouri State University Springfield Materials Sciences students take on a median of $24,408 in debt. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Oregon State University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Set in Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $24,043. Read the full report on Oregon State University
University Of California Riverside did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Riverside, CA, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Read more about University Of California Riverside
University Of Georgia placed #19 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. This public school is set in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. University Of Georgia Materials Sciences students take on a median of $21,792 in debt. More on University Of Georgia
Rowan University placed #21 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Rowan University is a public school based in Glassboro, NJ. Rowan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $24,488. Read the full report on Rowan University
University At Buffalo placed #22 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Located in Buffalo, NY, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $22,232. Get the full University At Buffalo report
Florida State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Tallahassee, FL. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans. Get the full Florida State University report
Wayne State University landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Detroit, MI. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Wayne State University Materials Sciences students take on a median of $26,689 in debt. Get the full Wayne State University report
Northern Arizona University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Flagstaff, AZ. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $21,645. Read more about Northern Arizona University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus did well this year, earning the #26 position. Set in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Students borrow a median of $26,368 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Read the full report on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best Materials Sciences Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #27 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Arkansas did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full University Of Arkansas profile
Youngstown State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. More on Youngstown State University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #31 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. More on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
University Of California San Diego did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full University Of California San Diego report
University Of Vermont landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Vermont
Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Read more about Air Force Institute Of Technology Graduate School Of Engineering And Management
Pittsburg State University placed #35 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pittsburg State University
University Of Southern California came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Stevens Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on Stevens Institute Of Technology
Kent State University At Kent came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
The University Of Alabama did well this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
Norfolk State University placed #40 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Norfolk State University
Linfield College
Linfield College landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Linfield College profile
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana did well this year, earning the #42 position. Read the full report on Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Suny At Albany report
University Of Connecticut landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
Montana State University came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about Montana State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Vanderbilt University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Vanderbilt University
Duke University
Duke University placed #48 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Duke University
Washington University In St Louis landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Washington University In St Louis report
Catholic University Of America placed #50 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Catholic University Of America
Best Materials Sciences Schools by Degree Level
Explore rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Materials Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Materials Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 68 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).