WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+13% vs national median107 grads tracked

Materials Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 1st of 4 bachelor's programs in Materials Sciences by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$77,901
middle 50%: $59,982 – $88,633
Median · 5 years out
$102,395
middle 50%: $76,554 – $124,153
Median · 10 years out
$136,759
middle 50%: $94,759 – $179,858

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Materials Sciences (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 Sciences earn a median $77,901 one year after graduating, rising to $136,759 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $90,815 for this field, ranking 1st of 4 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
≈ $4,263 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Arizona (The)
$96,490 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$90,815 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$84,610 · 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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