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Materials Engineering at Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,623/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #25 of 33 Materials Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Materials Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $889K $848K $736K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.5x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$242,652
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$153,712
37% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$99,089
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $78,623 at Drexel University come in 10% above the national median of $71,341 for Materials Engineering programs.

The 3.5x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 48% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $78,623 far exceeding the $31,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #25 out of 33 programs, Drexel University's financial outcomes for Materials Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $78,623 to $99,089 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Drexel University

Drexel University accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 13,509 students in Philadelphia, PA. The average net cost of $153,712 over four years represents a 37% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Drexel University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Materials engineers $108,310/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 33 schools offering Materials Engineering →

Materials Engineering at Other Schools

University of Florida ($79,200) Michigan State University ($78,276) Purdue University-Main Campus ($78,265) Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($77,646) University of Wisconsin-Madison ($76,662) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($76,488) University of Connecticut ($75,607) University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus ($75,607)

Other Majors at Drexel University

Computer Engineering ($89,418) Computer Science ($86,930) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($85,441) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($81,904) Information Science/Studies ($78,755) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($78,089) Construction Management ($78,030) Chemical Engineering ($77,528)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Drexel University's Materials Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Drexel University trails the majority of Materials Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Materials Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Materials Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 48% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →