2026 Best Materials Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Materials Sciences doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 68 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
University Of California Santa Barbara tops our 2026 ranking of the best Materials Sciences doctoral degree schools in the United States. Based in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,444, compared with $47,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. More on University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Berkeley came in at #2 on this year's Materials Sciences ranking in the United States. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Get the full University Of California Berkeley report
You'll be in good company at University Of Delaware, which ranked #3 this year. University Of Delaware is a public school based in Newark, DE. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $24,861. Read more about University Of Delaware
Out of the 68 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Arizona landed the #4 spot. University Of Arizona is a public school based in Tucson, AZ. About 68% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. More on University Of Arizona
The strong Materials Sciences programs at University Of Rochester earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,080. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Read more about University Of Rochester
University Of California Riverside landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Riverside, CA. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,636, with out-of-state students paying around $46,524. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. See the full University Of California Riverside profile
Oregon State University placed #7 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Oregon State University Materials Sciences students take on a median of $24,043 in debt. Read more about Oregon State University
University Of Georgia did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. More on University Of Georgia
Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. See the full Michigan State University profile
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Located in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Rowan University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Glassboro, NJ, Rowan University is a public institution. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Rowan University Materials Sciences students take on a median of $24,488 in debt. More on Rowan University
Florida State University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $20,488. Read the full report on Florida State University
University At Buffalo did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in Buffalo, NY. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans. See the full University At Buffalo profile
Wayne State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Detroit, MI, Wayne State University is a public institution. Wayne State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. More on Wayne State University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire report
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana came in at #16 in this year's ranking. More on Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana
Northern Arizona University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. More on Northern Arizona University
Washington University In St Louis placed #18 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Washington University In St Louis report
Northwestern University placed #19 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Northwestern University
Washington State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Read more about Washington State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #21 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Pennsylvania State University Main Campus report
Fayetteville State University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Fayetteville State University
University Of Denver landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Denver
University Of New Mexico Main Campus did well this year, earning the #24 position. More on University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Kent State University At Kent landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Rest of the Top 50 Best Materials Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of Connecticut placed #27 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Connecticut
Norfolk State University placed #28 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. More on Norfolk State University
Cuny Graduate School And University Center came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Cuny Graduate School And University Center
University Of California Irvine did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full University Of California Irvine report
University Of South Dakota came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of South Dakota report
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #32 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
Catholic University Of America did well this year, earning the #33 position. More on Catholic University Of America
Stevens Institute Of Technology ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #35 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full North Dakota State University Main Campus report
University Of Vermont came in at #36 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Vermont
University Of California Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on University Of California Los Angeles
Central Michigan University placed #38 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. More on Central Michigan University
Pittsburg State University came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Pittsburg State University report
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #40 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Rochester Institute Of Technology report
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. More on University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on William Paterson University Of New Jersey
Vanderbilt University did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Vanderbilt University report
University Of Notre Dame did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about University Of Notre Dame
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Carnegie Mellon University
University Of Kentucky did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read the full report on University Of Kentucky
Youngstown State University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Youngstown State University
Duke University
Duke University did well this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Duke University report
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. See the full Illinois Institute Of Technology profile
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Related Materials Sciences Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Materials Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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).