WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+4% vs national median503 grads tracked

Materials Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 2nd of 20 bachelor's programs in Materials Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$78,023
middle 50%: $55,542 – $90,604
Median · 5 years out
$98,443
middle 50%: $76,854 – $121,802
Median · 10 years out
$134,030
middle 50%: $102,295 – $176,056

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

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's bachelor's program in Materials Engineering earn a median $78,023 one year after graduating, rising to $134,030 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% above the national median of $94,535 for this field, ranking 2nd of 20 reporting programs.

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 yrs
≈ $4,307 total interest

Same major at other universities

Purdue University
$99,765 · 5 yrs out
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

Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out

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