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Materials Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $74,058/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Large (37,000 openings/yr)
ROI 20.4x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #23 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 $754K $726K $645K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.2x 20.4x 18.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.7x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 66% 49%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 60 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,580
Out-of-state: $127,068 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,724
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,111
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $74,058 track close to the $71,341 national median for Materials Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Materials Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Materials Engineering's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

At $21,111 in median debt against $74,058 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #23 of 33 Materials Engineering programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits 40% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, one of the larger campuses at 26,389 students in Raleigh, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh →

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) Drexel University ($78,623) 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)

Other Majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science ($85,809) Computer Engineering ($82,997) Chemical Engineering ($81,492) Industrial Engineering ($81,055) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,687) Construction Engineering ($76,574) Nuclear Engineering ($74,540) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($74,016)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Materials Engineering at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Materials Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Materials Engineering careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $644,785 in decade earnings vs $753,695 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →