Bachelors In

Materials Engineering Degrees

The complete guide on what you’ll learn, job prospects, university programs, and saving time and money.
Table of Contents

Why We Love It

  • $94,690
    Potential Avg. Salary*
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook

* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172131.htm for 17-2131 Materials engineers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Some engineers design new technologies, devices, machinery, and buildings. Others come before design and develop the actual materials used to innovate in all of these areas.

These engineers are known as materials engineers, and they enable innovation through the creation of new materials. If this career field sounds exciting to you, you may consider earning a bachelor of science in materials engineering.

What is a Degree in Materials Engineering?

Materials engineers work to understand the structure, properties, and behaviors of different types of materials. The materials developed by materials engineers are used to create all types of modern products and structures—from building frames to mobile phone microchips.

The materials designed by these specialists have driven innovation in a number of industries. Materials engineers have worked to develop the materials used in knee replacements, solar energy collection devices, and computer hardware.

In a materials engineering program, you’ll take coursework in mathematics, science, and engineering with a focus on learning how to analyze, deconstruct, synthesize, and combine the properties of existing materials to form new materials.

Students commonly choose a specialization of focus, which may include areas like biomaterials, energy materials, construction materials, nanomaterials, or polymeric materials. Graduates often enjoy careers as materials engineers or in a related engineering discipline.

Recommended Schools

What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Materials Engineering?

  • Mechanics of Solids
  • Computational Mechanics
  • Applied Thermodynamics
  • Design of Machine Elements
  • Materials Science
  • Aerospace Materials
  • Electrical, Magnetic, & Optical Properties of Materials
  • Aerospace Propulsion

What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Materials Engineering?

Though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for materials engineers will be flat in the coming decade, there are ways for individuals interested in this degree and career field to improve their chances of finding work after graduation.

The Department of Labor suggests that demand will be greatest for biomedical materials engineers, so concentrating in that subject may be beneficial. Additionally, students with an education and skills in computer modeling should be in higher demand than those without computer modeling training.

How Long does it take?

A bachelors in Materials Engineering will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.

Recommended Schools

Best Jobs for Materials Engineering Degrees

Though the obvious career choice for a materials engineering graduate is as a materials engineer, the degree lends itself well to many other engineering disciplines as well. Many graduates end up working in manufacturing and share the responsibilities of a manufacturing and materials engineer.

Others go into the field of biomedical engineering and use their understanding of material properties to innovate on healthcare delivery devices.

How to save time and money

Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Materials Engineering degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:

Create Your Free SmartPlan

There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.

That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.

It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering

Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:

  • Which Colleges Match Your Needs
  • Ways You Could Save Time & Money
  • Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
  • Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
  • Detailed Steps You Should Take!

See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes

Create My SmartPlan

You Might also be Interested in

Many visitors who look for a degree in Materials Engineering are also interested in the following degrees.

Start Towards Your Materials Engineering Degree, Free.

Generate your free SmartPlan™ to identify schools you like, and potential ways to save on your degree or certification program with courses, offers, and much more!

Get Started