WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+6% vs national median478 grads tracked

Materials Engineering at Purdue University

Ranked 1st of 20 bachelor's programs in Materials Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$80,477
middle 50%: $67,639 – $92,787
Median · 5 years out
$99,765
middle 50%: $84,244 – $114,923
Median · 10 years out
$123,906
middle 50%: $100,457 – $158,255

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 Purdue University's bachelor's program in Materials Engineering earn a median $80,477 one year after graduating, rising to $123,906 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $94,535 for this field, ranking 1st 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
3.9 yrs
≈ $4,186 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$98,443 · 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

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
Compare universities
Agricultural Engineering
Compare universities
Architectural Engineering
Compare universities
Biochemical Engineering
Compare universities
Biological/Biosystems Engineering
Compare universities
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
Compare universities