Bachelor's0% vs national median492 grads tracked
Materials Engineering at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Ranked 9th of 20 bachelor's programs in Materials Engineering by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$76,428
middle 50%: $57,237 – $89,709
Median · 5 years out
$94,535
middle 50%: $75,124 – $114,844
Median · 10 years out
$121,409
middle 50%: $95,457 – $153,601
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Materials Engineering (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Materials Engineering graduates earn a median $76k in their first year. This grows to $121k by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
4.2 yrs
≈ $4,430 total interest
Same major at other universities
Georgia Institute of Technology
$98,225 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$98,163 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama at Birmingham
$96,151 · 5 yrs out
University of Connecticut
$95,850 · 5 yrs out
University of Michigan
$95,736 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$95,335 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$94,485 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$93,428 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$93,261 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$92,424 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$92,387 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$90,137 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$147,324 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,317 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$118,825 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$116,045 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$113,881 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,597 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$104,160 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,015 · 5 yrs out
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