Materials Science & Engineering
CompareWhat is Materials Science & Engineering?
This interdisciplinary field of study involves taking courses in chemistry, physics, and engineering to build a fundamental understanding of materials. You’ll learn how to tailor the structure, properties, and performance of existing materials and develop and synthesize new materials with unique properties. Finding the right material is important for applications spanning major technological and societal challenges such as renewable energy generation and storage, development of advanced microelectronics, environmental remediation, space exploration, and sustainable transportation. This major may be for you if want to be at the forefront of technology and make things smaller, faster, stronger, and smarter.
Career Options
- Manufacturing
- Materials
- Research
- Packaging
- Process development
- Quality management
Post-Graduation Success1
87% employed or continuing education
57% employed after graduation
30% attending graduate school
$62,984 average starting annual income
Sample employer destinations: Texas Instruments, Ebco, Epic Systems
Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, Northwestern University
Academic Profile Middle 50% 2
31 - 34 ACT Score
1390 - 1510 SAT Score
3.59 - 3.95 High School GPA
Annual Program Costs
Illinois Resident
- Tuition: $17,040
- Fees: $4,174
- Expenses3: $15,180
- Total: $36,394
Non-Resident
- Tuition: $34,182
- Fees: $4,174
- Expenses3: $15,520
- Total: $53,876
International
- Tuition: $39,400
- Fees: $4,174
- Expenses3: $15,520
- Total: $59,094