Materials Engineeringat Michigan State University
Graduates earn $78,276/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national Materials Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $820K; scenarios range from $715K to $858K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Michigan State University
Your strong showing in Materials Engineering at Michigan State reflects the university's deep ties to the industrial heartland. Graduates from MSU are highly valued by key employers in automotive, aerospace, defense, and medical device sectors across Michigan and the broader Midwest. The program's robust research infrastructure and emphasis on practical application mean you'll develop skills directly applicable to R&D, product development, and process optimization roles. While certain routine tasks in materials science may face increasing automation, your analytical prowess in understanding material behavior, innovating new compounds, and leading project teams will remain critical. Focus on securing internships that expose you to advanced computational tools and interdisciplinary problem-solving to future-proof your career in this essential field.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Michigan State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Materials Engineering
How Michigan State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Michigan State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Materials Engineering at Michigan State University
What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Materials Engineering at Michigan State University?
At 69/100, Michigan State University's Materials Engineering program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Materials Engineering at Michigan State University?
The 48% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.