Are you interested in studying materials science? Materials science is about understanding and creating new materials, like metals, ceramics, and plastics. These materials are used in many things we use every day. Here are the 30 best colleges for materials science in 2024. We will share details like GPA requirements, SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rates, and more.
30 Best Colleges for Materials Science
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
GPA Requirement: 4.1
Median SAT: 1540
Median ACT: 35
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $85,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: MIT graduates work in top technology and research companies. They often become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech companies.
Academic Highlights: MIT is known for its top materials science program. Students learn from world-class professors and use advanced labs and equipment. They work on exciting projects.
2. Stanford University
GPA Requirement: 4.0
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $82,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Stanford graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Stanford has a top materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on cutting-edge projects.
3. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
GPA Requirement: 4.2
Median SAT: 1530
Median ACT: 35
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $84,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Caltech graduates work in top research and tech companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech firms.
Academic Highlights: Caltech is known for its excellent materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting research projects.
4. University of California, Berkeley
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 17%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $80,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Berkeley graduates work in top tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Berkeley has a top materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
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5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1420
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $75,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Illinois graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Illinois has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1430
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $78,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Michigan graduates work in top tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Michigan has a top materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
7. University of California, Santa Barbara
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1400
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $74,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: UCSB graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: UCSB has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
8. Georgia Institute of Technology
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1430
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 21%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $77,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Georgia Tech graduates work in top tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Georgia Tech has a top materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
9. Northwestern University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1470
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 9%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $79,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Northwestern graduates work in top tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Northwestern has a top materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on cutting-edge projects.
10. Cornell University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $80,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Cornell graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Cornell has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
11. Carnegie Mellon University
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1460
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 15%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $78,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Carnegie Mellon graduates work in top tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Carnegie Mellon has a top materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
12. University of California, San Diego
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1400
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $75,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: UCSD graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: UCSD has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
13. University of Texas at Austin
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1380
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $74,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Texas graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Texas has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
14. University of Wisconsin-Madison
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1390
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $73,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Wisconsin graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Wisconsin has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
15. University of Florida
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1370
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 31%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $72,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Florida graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Florida has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
16. Purdue University
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1370
Median ACT: 30
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $72,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Purdue graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Purdue has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
17. Pennsylvania State University
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1360
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $71,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Penn State graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Penn State has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
18. University of Pennsylvania
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1490
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $79,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: UPenn graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: UPenn has a top materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
19. Harvard University
GPA Requirement: 4.0
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $81,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Harvard graduates work in top research and tech companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech firms.
Academic Highlights: Harvard is known for its excellent materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting research projects.
20. Columbia University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1480
Median ACT: 33
Acceptance Rate: 6%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $80,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Columbia graduates work in top research and tech companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech firms.
Academic Highlights: Columbia is known for its top materials science program. Students learn from leading professors and use advanced labs. They work on cutting-edge projects.
21. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1450
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 14%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $78,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: UCLA graduates work in top research and tech companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech firms.
Academic Highlights: UCLA is known for its strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
22. University of Minnesota
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1370
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $72,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Minnesota graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Minnesota has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
23. Duke University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $79,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Duke graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Duke has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
24. Rice University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1500
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $79,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Rice graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Rice has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
25. Johns Hopkins University
GPA Requirement: 3.9
Median SAT: 1490
Median ACT: 34
Acceptance Rate: 11%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, top SAT/ACT scores, strong essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $78,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Johns Hopkins graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own successful companies.
Academic Highlights: Johns Hopkins has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
26. University of Virginia
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1430
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 23%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $77,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Virginia graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Virginia has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
27. Ohio State University
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1350
Median ACT: 29
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $72,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Ohio State graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Ohio State has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
28. Texas A&M University
GPA Requirement: 3.7
Median SAT: 1330
Median ACT: 28
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $71,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Texas A&M graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Texas A&M has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
29. University of Southern California (USC)
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1440
Median ACT: 32
Acceptance Rate: 13%
Admission Requirements: High GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $77,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: USC graduates work in top research and tech companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own tech firms.
Academic Highlights: USC is known for its strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on innovative projects.
30. University of Washington
GPA Requirement: 3.8
Median SAT: 1400
Median ACT: 31
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Admission Requirements: Good GPA, strong SAT/ACT scores, essays, and recommendations.
Salary: Average starting salary is $75,000. Graduates have many job opportunities.
Professional Outcomes: Washington graduates work in leading tech and research companies. They become engineers, researchers, and scientists. Many start their own businesses.
Academic Highlights: Washington has a strong materials science program. Students learn from top professors and use advanced labs. They work on exciting projects.
Best Material Science Universities – Conclusion
Picking the right college for materials science is very important. Each of these 30 schools has a great program with experienced teachers and strong connections to companies. Graduates from these universities have high earning potential and can find good jobs in top companies. Think about your goals and interests when choosing a school to ensure the best fit for your future in materials science. Good luck on your academic journey!