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Engineering · Metallurgical Engineering Rank #1 of 4

Metallurgical Engineeringat Missouri University of Science and Technology

Graduates earn $80,627/yr in their first year — about 13.0% above the national Metallurgical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $806K; scenarios range from $700K to $833K depending on AI disruption.

Rolla, MO Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
70 STRONG
71
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$80,627
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$806K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri S&T's long-standing reputation in materials science and mining engineering gives its metallurgical graduates a significant edge in a highly specialized field. The university's deep industry connections, particularly within manufacturing, defense, and heavy industries across the Midwest and beyond, create a robust recruiting pipeline. You'll find yourself in critical roles, from optimizing alloy performance in aerospace components to ensuring material integrity in energy infrastructure or developing new materials for advanced applications. While AI might automate some repetitive analysis, your unique expertise in material failure, processing, and innovation remains irreplaceable. To maximize your prospects, prioritize hands-on research and multiple internships, leveraging the program's strong employer relationships to gain diverse experience and specialize in emerging areas like additive manufacturing.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$700K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple12.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$806K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$833K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple14.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Missouri University of Science and Technology's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Metallurgical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Materials engineers
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$108,310/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Metallurgical Engineering

How Missouri University of Science and Technology stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Colorado School of Mines
CO · Public
65
DW Score
$79K
1-yr earn
10.1x
ROI
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
SD · Public
58
DW Score
$72K
1-yr earn
16.3x
ROI
The University of Texas at El Paso
TX · Public
63
DW Score
$53K
1-yr earn
17.9x
ROI
Also at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Other top programs at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Missouri University of Science and Technology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Metallurgical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

How does Missouri University of Science and Technology's Metallurgical Engineering program score?

A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Missouri University of Science and Technology's Metallurgical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Metallurgical Engineering to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Metallurgical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Missouri University of Science and Technology rank so high for Metallurgical Engineering?

The #1 ranking out of 4 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.