# Materials Sciences

> Materials Sciences is a field of study in the Physical Sciences area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences
- CIP code: 40.10 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 45 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 16 | $82,424 | $119,715 | not reported |
| Master's | 41 | $86,179 | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 45 | not reported | $164,651 | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $119,715 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Materials Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/materials-scientists): $117,790 median pay
- [Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engineering-teachers-postsecondary): $109,270 median pay
- [Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemistry-teachers-postsecondary): $93,250 median pay
- [Chemists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chemists): $91,240 median pay
- [Postsecondary Teachers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postsecondary-teachers-all-other): $77,640 median pay
- [Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/life-physical-and-social-science-technicians-all-other): $62,280 median pay
- [Quality Control Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-analysts): $62,280 median pay
- [Remote Sensing Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/remote-sensing-technicians): $62,280 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry): 1,132 colleges
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics): 772 colleges
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences): 444 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics): 112 colleges
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology): 83 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/