WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-1% vs national median486 grads tracked

Materials Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 11th of 20 bachelor's programs in Materials Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$74,203
middle 50%: $55,464 – $87,310
Median · 5 years out
$93,428
middle 50%: $78,137 – $110,845
Median · 10 years out
$117,305
middle 50%: $94,389 – $149,516

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 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's bachelor's program in Materials Engineering earn a median $74,203 one year after graduating, rising to $117,305 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% below the national median of $94,535 for this field, ranking 11th 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
4.3 yrs
≈ $4,550 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$94,535 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$94,485 · 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
University of Utah
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$88,907 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out

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