2026 Best Materials Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Materials Sciences master’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 68 institutions 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 produce 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Rochester Institute Of Technology tops our 2026 ranking of the best Materials Sciences master's degree schools in the United States. Set in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Rochester Institute Of Technology Materials Sciences students take on a median of $27,491 in debt. Read the full report on Rochester Institute Of Technology
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Berkeley, CA, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
Out of the 68 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Arizona landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $21,861. More on University Of Arizona
A rank of #4 makes University Of Delaware one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $24,861. Read more about University Of Delaware
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Santa Barbara one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Santa Barbara, CA, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans. Get the full University Of California Santa Barbara report
Michigan State University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Michigan State University is a public school based in East Lansing, MI. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $25,213. Read the full report on Michigan State University
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. See the full Colorado State University Fort Collins profile
University Of Rochester came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,080. University Of Rochester Materials Sciences students take on a median of $21,517 in debt. See the full University Of Rochester profile
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Wayne, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $25,644. Get the full William Paterson University Of New Jersey report
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Located in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill report
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Located in Springfield, MO, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical Materials Sciences student debt is $24,408. Get the full Missouri State University Springfield report
Oregon State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Oregon State University is a public school based in Corvallis, OR. Oregon State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. The median Materials Sciences program debt is $24,043. More on Oregon State University
University Of California Riverside landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. University Of California Riverside is a public school based in Riverside, CA. University Of California Riverside posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. University Of California Riverside Materials Sciences students take on a median of $19,187 in debt. More on University Of California Riverside
University At Buffalo landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. University At Buffalo is a public school based in Buffalo, NY. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $22,232 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Wayne State University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Wayne State University is a public school based in Detroit, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Read more about Wayne State University
Florida State University placed #16 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete their Materials Sciences program here. Read more about Florida State University
Northern Arizona University placed #17 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. This public school is set in Flagstaff, AZ. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Northern Arizona University Materials Sciences students take on a median of $21,645 in debt. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,202, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus Materials Sciences students take on a median of $26,368 in debt. Read more about University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Kent State University At Kent ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Read more about Kent State University At Kent
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #20 in this year's ranking. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Montana State University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Montana State University report
University Of Vermont placed #23 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Vermont profile
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
University Of South Dakota came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of South Dakota
Rest of the Top 50 Best Materials Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Arkansas did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Suny At Albany
Suny At Albany came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about Suny At Albany
Central Michigan University did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Central Michigan University profile
Norfolk State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Get the full Norfolk State University report
University Of Connecticut placed #30 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Connecticut profile
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Carnegie Mellon University profile
The University Of Alabama landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full The University Of Alabama report
Cuny Graduate School And University Center ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. See the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center profile
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
University Of California Irvine placed #35 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of California Irvine
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on University Of Southern California
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #37 in this year's ranking. See the full North Dakota State University Main Campus profile
Youngstown State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. Get the full Youngstown State University report
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Illinois Institute Of Technology
University Of California San Diego ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Materials Sciences schools. See the full University Of California San Diego profile
Pittsburg State University came in at #41 in this year's ranking. See the full Pittsburg State University profile
The University Of Montana came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full The University Of Montana report
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Washington University In St Louis landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Washington University In St Louis
Rowan University
Rowan University did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Rowan University profile
Vanderbilt University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Vanderbilt University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #47 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
University Of North Florida placed #48 among Materials Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Florida profile
Catholic University Of America came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Get the full Catholic University Of America report
Northwestern University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Get the full Northwestern University report
Related Materials Sciences Rankings
Compare rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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).